Jim Robey - W.E. UpJohn Institute

Jim Robey’s research and technical assistance on economic issues and in economic and workforce development has assisted corporate, nonprofit, and economic and workforce development entities in problem resolution and strategic decision making, from the local to the national levels. Spanning more than three decades, his expertise includes industry studies, applied occupational analysis, economic impact modeling and analysis, economic and workforce development research and analysis, and site selection assistance.

Dr. Robey’s research focuses on regional economic, education, and workforce development issues across Michigan and the nation. He prepares annual employment forecasts for west Michigan’s metropolitan areas, directs the production of Business Outlook for West Michigan, and provides economic insights for regional economic development organizations with a focus across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic states. He has additionally coauthored research on a variety of national and regional issues.

He received his Ph.D. in Urban Studies (1997), with an emphasis on Economic Development, and his Master’s degree in Public Administration (1993) from the Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology (1979) from Edinboro State College.

Prior to joining Upjohn, Dr. Robey was an Associate Vice President with Southwest Michigan First in Kalamazoo, MI, where he directed local economic development efforts in Marshall, MI. Prior to working in Kalamazoo, he was Managing Director at Mohr Partners, Inc., where he focused on site selection and economic and workforce development strategies, and before that, was Vice President of Research at TeamNEO, where he oversaw and developed economic research across 16 northeast Ohio counties.