Michigan Economic Scorecard
Michigan’s economy is critical to helping us become a top 10 state. We are seeing ongoing economic fallout resulting from anti-business decisions and landmark measures being made by the governor and Legislature. Together we must work together to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that impact all Michiganders.
Reversing course and approving pro-business measures for a pro-economy environment during the 2023-24 legislative session is a priority for the Policy Forum.
Together we can be a catalyst and chart a new course for Michigan’s prosperity.
The below data tracks the leading indicators of the health of Michigan’s economy. Share this checks and balances barometer widely to inform Michiganders on what is working and what policies need fixing.
Breaking News
Michigan now ranks in the bottom 14 states for its economy, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The ranking measures each state’s business environment, labor market and overall economic growth. Michigan also ranks in the bottom 10 states overall. See full details here.
Michigan’s personal income per capita dropped from 16th nationally in 1999 to 39th in 2022, according to a Michigan Future Inc. report released in January 2024. The amount of money Michiganders earned during the last 23 years increased by only 24.2%, while the national average climbed by 42.1% during the same period. Read the report here.
Michigan is in the bottom 20 states for growth. In an effort to help reverse the alarming trend of Michigan’s population loss, we sent Gov. Whitmer’s Michigan Population Council co-chairs a letter detailing 9 proven policy recommendations to consider. Click to see the full letter.
New 2021/22 Michigan school grades reveal a decline since 2018/19 school grades. The West Michigan Policy Forum and Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) released easy-to-understand A-F grades for the state’s K-12 public schools with data from the 2021/22 school year. An A-F grading system is the easiest way to convey school performance results. See the full announcement.
Most Recent Data
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Michigan Unemployment Rate Statistics
4.0% – January 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Michigan General Labor Force
4.851 million employees in civilian labor force – March 2023
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – Michigan’s Gross Domestic Product
3.2% increase – Q4 2023
Federal Reserve Economic Data – Michigan Average Hourly Earnings
$32.18 – January 2024
Michigan Labor Market Information – Overall Payroll Employment
0.2% increase – March 2023
Analysis
Michigan endured the second-to-worst population growth in the country over the last two decades. After climbing above 10 million in 2004, Michigan’s population sharply decreased during its “one-state recession” during the Granholm administration. Starting in 2010, however, growth resumed, and Michigan was back to over 10 million people again. Recent years, however, have witnessed another declining trend, with population estimates falling each year since 2019. Michigan’s anemic population growth led to the Great Lakes State losing two congressional seats over this period, meaning Michiganders’ voices will be harder to hear at our nation’s Capitol.
– The Mackinac Center for Public Policy, May 2023
Contact your local legislator today and tell them to stand up for pro-business, pro-economy policies!
Help us widely share these statistics.
