Michigan’s job climate could be heating up.

On Tuesday, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said it was dumping $742 million into business projects statewide with a series of tax credits within 10 years and the promise of around 7,000 jobs.

The investment will benefit 13 business projects, affecting numerous industries from life sciences to homeland security.

“It’s going to be localized to where those companies are investing,” said Brian Anderson, president of the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. “I think it provides an excellent opportunity for any educated workforce.”

Fortu PowerCell, an international developer of rechargeable batteries, is to receive about $12.6 million in tax credits to start operations in Muskegon, and Masco Cabinetry Co., a manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets, will get $5.7 million for job retention, among others.

Anderson said Michigan currently lacks a workforce to fill specific skills and said it is not unreasonable to predict job creation from the tax breaks.

The state Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth recently released a prediction of “Michigan’s HOT 50” jobs, pegging health care as one of the fields expected to see the most growth in the next seven years.

“I think it’s a good outlook in Michigan,” said Burton graduate student Desirae Delbridge. “If we all stayed in Michigan, we would all have jobs lined up by the time we graduate.”

Delbridge is studying to be a physician’s assistant­, one of the strongest jobs, according to the report, with more than 20 percent job growth predicted before 2016.

There are a record number of jobs that require bachelors and associate degrees on the job forecast, DELEG economic analyst Bruce Weaver said.

“It’s just a sampling of some of the occupations in Michigan that are expected to have above average growth,” Weaver said. “Growth in occupations like heath care and tech jobs, and less jobs available in manufacturing … Those trends are similar across the country.”

Michigan jobs may be overall a little heavier in engineering and manufacturing than other states because of investments in the car industry, he said, but most places require similar techniques and skills to get a job.

Dennis Dunlap, director of Alma Michigan Works, said 50 percent of the jobs one gets are because of networking, and 60 percent are never advertised and are filled through network connections.

He recommended incoming students look at the list of jobs and figure out which one they are interested in.

“Be specific in your training, start building your job network … Those are keys,” Dunlap said. “When you do that, if you can do that, then you’ll get a job in Michigan.”

Central Michigan University physician’s assistant students are generally not worried about finding a job in Michigan or anywhere else, Eric Rocker said.

“I don’t think anyone of us would have a problem getting a job anywhere,” the Newberry graduate student said. “Most of last year’s students had two to three job offers before they graduated.”

E-mail the author: Maryellen Tighe