With the nation's highest unemployment rate at 15 percent and 1 million fewer jobs by the end of the year, Michigan may seem like one of the worst states to look for work. However, things are looking up for Detroit. Recent Department of Energy grants are funding factories, jumpstarting hybrid and electric car technology and creating jobs that tap into the vast pool of skilled auto industry talent in the area.

 

In fact, Detroit was listed number seven on a list of clean energy jobs compiled by the Pew Charitable Trust. Even companies not based in Michigan, such as California's Fisker Automotive and Ford battery car supplier Magna International, have opened branches near the metro area. A mechanical engineer with a bachelor's degree working on green autos can expect to make an average annual salary of $64,000.