Michigan, which only ranks 15th among all states for total tech jobs, increased its tech hiring by 2,700 positions.

That sounds somewhat pitiful considering that the state, with headquarters of General Motors, Ford and the US division of Chrysler-Fiat, has lost about 46,700 tech jobs since 2001. However, according to the foundation’s study, most states lost tech jobs in 2010, with 115,800 net lost jobs for the year (out of a total 5.75 million tech workers).

Hear that, Michiganders? Your state had the most hiring of one of the leading job markets in the country. The tech titles saw only a 4% drop in employment, compared with a 7% decline across all private sector jobs, according to the TechAmerican study. Another recent study of high-tech jobs by Jones Lang LaSalle showed a growth rate of nearly four times the national average.

Only Washington, DC came close, adding 1,400 high-tech jobs. West Virginia and Utah rounded out the top four, but with only 400 new workers each.

I know, I can year you out there – what does it matter? California is way out in front with almost one million technology jobs in hubs such as Silicon Valley and San Francisco, while Washington, DC has led the nation for six years with the highest concentration of high-tech workers; about 98 out of every 1,000 private sector jobs has tech in the title. Michigan, by contrast, only has about 155,100 technology jobs, total.

It matters because Detroit, while still undisputedly the Motor City, is by no means the jobs draw it was 100 years ago. This state, with its five Great Lakes coasts and hundreds of thousands of acres of natural, untouched forest and parklands, loses college graduates hand over fist to big cities such as Chicago, New York City, Atlanta andDallas.

High tech jobs also pay almost twice as much as the average private wage of $45,000, nothing to sneeze at for many industrial employees still looking for work.

To keep Detroit around, to look to get back to the one million resident mark it lost decades ago, the underdog city needs its teamwork – and it’s getting it. Business owners who moved away to the suburbs or who just never considered the city, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Compuware, General Motors, and Rock Financial, have moved to the city in force, and more are on the way.

A few months ago during my routine military reserve medical checkup in Washington, DC, I remember talking with a Navy corpsman about the chances for the Detroit Lions, the laughingstock of the NFL, the team that in 2008 followed its city’s downward spiral during the recession by giving the league its first 0-16 season.

Usually, when I tell people in the military that I am a Detroit native, I get, at best, a chuckle with the head shaking low and a sarcastic smile. At worst, I get a frown and a pat on the shoulder, as if a loved one had passed on.

This time, the response I got surprised me. “Detroit? I hear they’re coming back – it should be their year,” the corpsman said.

For the first time in a long time, I agree.