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Home - City Guide - Detroit - Business | ||
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Business Business Profile: Detroit is the largest city in Michigan, the seventh largest in the USA and the automotive manufacturing capital of the world. It has an abundant, skilled workforce that exceeds 2.7 million people. The Detroit region enjoys a low unemployment rate of 3.4% compared with the national average of 4.2%. Contrary to Detroit's reputation as the 'Motor City', however, the city's economy, like much of North America's, has shifted toward service industries in recent years. Indeed, the service sector has now become the dominant industry in the Detroit region, accounting for 30 per cent of the region's employment. Health services are now the region's largest employer, followed by business services. Ranking third is the industry that Detroit is famous for - cars. Transportation equipment manufacturing employs over 200,000 people and has grown by 70 per cent in the last decade. Over 1.4 million cars and one million trucks were produced in the region in 1998 and 72 of the top 150 equipment manufacturers are headquartered or have a major presence in Detroit. Automotive research and development, robotics and high-tech manufacturing are experiencing similar growth in servicing the auto industry. Detroit is home to many large companies, such as the 'big three' - General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and Ford. More than 50 firms employing 500 people or more are also headquarted in the region, such as Comerica, Henry Ford Health System and Penske. Some companies, such as General Motors, are located in the heart of Detroit's downtown. Others, such as Ford, are located in many of the city's suburb communities, such as Flint, Dearborn and Southfield. Business Etiquette: Detroit is a Midwestern city, whose main industry is auto manufacturing, so it is hardly surprising that Detroit is somewhat conservative when it comes to business. Although immensely friendly, its citizens are hardworking and efficient and see to it that the workday is not wasted. Formal business wear is often the norm in the office, but always worn for sales calls or when meeting business associates. The working day is typically 0900-1700, although some variation or even a slightly longer day is not uncommon. Entertainment commonly takes place in restaurants - occasionally bars - either during lunch or in the evening. It is uncommon to be invited into a business associate's home for business purposes. Gifts are not normally tolerated, although token gestures, such as a bottle of wine, are usually accepted after a deal has been completed. Business cards are normally exchanged after meals or meetings, not during introductions. Upon introductions, it is normal to call people by their last names, however, once a relationship has been established, people tend to call one another by their first names. The best time to visit Detroit for business purposes is between September and May, as the summer is the most popular time of year for holidays. |