Job Growth or Growing Government?

Lansing, MI – Michigan’s latest unemployment figures are in, and they are not looking good. While Michigan has maintained its 5% unemployment rate, one of the worst in the country, it’s hemorrhaging jobs in manufacturing, retail, and construction.

Between November and December, Michigan lost 9,000. At the same time, the state is facing a massive housing shortage, and construction jobs were down by 4,000. Overall, Michigan did have a net gain in jobs, but 80% of those jobs were government jobs. Of the 5,000 net jobs “gained,” 4,000 were government jobs. The gain in jobs also corresponded with a drop in overall employment, causing a sizeable drop in the state’s labor force.

“This is Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s economy at work,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “When Michiganders are looking for people to build more homes, fix the roads, and keep stores stocked, those jobs are nowhere to be found. Instead, Lansing Democrats want to solve the problem by increasing the size of government.”