When you think of Detroit, you think of cars, and when you think of cars, you think of Detroit. This connection has been established for a long time.

In fact, Ford Motor Company (headquartered in Dearborn), General Motors (headquartered in the Renaissance Center), and Stellantis (in Auburn Hills) make up the so-called 'Big Three' that anchor the economy of Metro Detroit. Ford employs about 100,000 people worldwide, while GM has around 167,000 employees, and these two companies alone have a significant impact on the employment market in the Detroit metro area.

The influence of the automotive industry extends beyond just the major manufacturers. There are thousands of first, second, and third-tier suppliers located throughout Metro Detroit, including several Korean companies. Hyundai Mobis, Hanon Systems, and SAMSHIN have offices in Michigan, leading to many Korean engineers and workers being employed in this sector. Amid the shift towards electric vehicles, Ford is building a new EV plant (Ford Next) at its River Rouge campus in Dearborn, and new investments and jobs in this field continue to emerge.

Aside from automobiles, there is another name that cannot be overlooked in the Detroit economy: Rocket Companies, founded by Dan Gilbert, which is well-known for Quicken Loans. As the largest mortgage lender in the U.S., it is headquartered in downtown Detroit and employs about 28,000 people. Dan Gilbert has invested billions of dollars in downtown Detroit real estate, becoming a key player in the city's revitalization. Additionally, StockX, a sneaker marketplace founded in Detroit in 2015, and Shinola, a luxury watch brand, are representative startups that have grown based in Detroit.

The healthcare sector is also a major pillar of the Detroit economy. Henry Ford Health System employs about 33,000 people and is one of the largest employers in Detroit. The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) is also a key employer. While the poverty rate in downtown Detroit is around 30% and the median household income is relatively low at about $33,000 to $36,000, the median household income for the broader Metro Detroit area, including suburban regions, is much higher, ranging from $65,000 to $75,000. This gap is one of the factors that complicates the narrative of the Detroit economy.