LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Just over a week after announcing the You Can in Michigan ad campaign aiming to grow the state’s population, Michigan has announced some growth in the state’s workforce. 

“2023 has been a historic year for our state and we are thrilled to see that our efforts to build on Michigan’s economic competitiveness are already paying off,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This year, we have continued to strengthen our state’s workforce and economy by investing in talent and community revitalization, producing thousands of new jobs in key industries and ensuring entrepreneurs and businesses have the tools they need to succeed.”  

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Governor Whitmer commented on recent statistics released by the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics ranked Michigan third in the nation, first in the Midwest in percentage of workers added to the workforce, with a 2.6% growth in the last six months. The state also ranks fourth in the nation, first in the Midwest in total workers added to the workforce, with over 124,000 workers added in the last six months.  From 2005 to 2018, Michigan’s workforce was one of the five states with the largest decline in workforce participation according to the governor’s office. 

“Michigan’s talented workforce has and continues to be the envy of the world, and that’s because of our combination of dedication, excellence and grit,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). “I’m happy — but not surprised — that workforce participation is on the rise. The economy is growing across sectors while our communities remain close-knit and comfortable places to put down roots. We’ve been saying for years that Michigan is the best place to build a career and raise a family, and now the numbers agree with us, too!” 

Part of the plan to bring more talent to the state to stay is through the work of the Growing Michigan Together Council, though some have voiced their concerns about the fruitfulness of the group, including State Representative Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) who serves as a member of the council and responded to how the council has worked to increase job opportunities in the state. 

“They haven’t yet,” Rep. Wendzel said in an email to Michigan News Source. “The council is still going over recommendations put forward by the subcommittees. For the state as a whole, we’re doing the exact opposite of what we need to do to attract and retain talent.  Businesses crave certainty and need a highly skilled workforce for them to compete nationally and internationally.” 

Also serving as the Minority Vice Chair for the Committee on Energy, Communications and Technology, she referred to a package of bills that would dramatically alter which energy Michigan could rely on, calling the package a “disastrous energy policy which would drastically spike the price of electricity and reduce reliability.”

“A vast amount of Michigan’s manufacturing industry relies on natural gas to run their plants,” Rep. Wendzel said in the email. “In the House version of the energy package, it’s banned.  When their source of fuel is eliminated, businesses will leave the state – taking jobs and talent with them.” 

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She also shared her thoughts on the trajectory of the council, who is supposed to deliver a report in December about suggestions for the state. 

“I’m deeply concerned this council is being used to justify a massive tax increase on Michigan families when they can least afford it,” Rep. Wendzel said in the email. “One presentation was dedicated to ‘explaining that Michigan is not a high tax state.’ The reality is that policies matter, and no matter how much of other people’s money the government spends, it’s pro-growth policies, certainty in the regulations, in energy policy, and a highly skilled workforce that will result in Michigan attracting and retaining talent.” 

One of the new projects in the state hailed for its potential to bring jobs, the Ford BlueOval Battery Park plant facility in Marshall, was recently halted amidst concerns for future “ability to competitively run the plant.”