Detroit indexes 70/100 on the Class A Atlas talent index, with strong engineering, automotive, and tech talent.

• Talent index: 70/100 (NYC = 100 baseline).
• Corporate tax: 26%.
• Talent depth and rent curve are correlated — top talent markets carry top rent.

TL;DR

• Talent index: 70/100 (NYC = 100 baseline).
• Corporate tax: 26%.
• Talent depth and rent curve are correlated — top talent markets carry top rent.

Talent depth

Strong engineering, automotive, and tech talent. University of Michigan, Wayne State, and Michigan State anchor the regional pipeline. Tech talent has grown rapidly post-2015 driven by Rocket Companies, Stellantis software, and Ford's mobility investments.

Cost-to-locate

Total cost of locating in Detroit is the sum of rent, fit-out">fit-out, and salary delta vs. comparable markets. Use the City Comparator tool to benchmark Detroit against peer cities on a single normalised view.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Is Detroit a deep talent market for tech/finance?

Strong engineering, automotive, and tech talent. University of Michigan, Wayne State, and Michigan State anchor the regional pipeline. Tech talent has grown rapidly post-2015 driven by Rocket Companies, Stellantis software, and Ford's mobility investments.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

Related topics

• Workplace Talent Strategy — How office location, building tier, and workplace experience shape talent attraction and retention.