Chief Executive Officers like it when Michigan creates new private-sector jobs. The proof is readily evident in the latest rankings in the 14th Annual Best & Worst States for Business survey just released this week by Chief Executive magazine.
Those CEOs moved Michigan up the ranks nine places higher than a year ago, landing Michigan at #27 on the new list. While there’s still work to be done, Michigan’s rapid advance over the previous list was the second largest gain, just missing a match of Rhode Island’s ten-place advance from 2017.
Last year alone, Michigan created more than 47,600 new private-sector jobs, improved its competitiveness with business tax incentives like the Good Jobs for Michigan and Michigan Thrive programs, and reduced its unemployment rate for the eighth consecutive year to the state’s lowest point since 2010.
Since 2011, Michigan has created more than 540,000 private-sector jobs.
Gov. Rick Snyder says, “This new survey shows Michigan has come a long way in a short amount of time.” He adds, “It also proves we are moving in the right direction and laying the foundation for sustainable, long-term success. We are creating a better business climate ready to attract the hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs coming back to our state in industries like manufacturing, information technology, healthcare and other professional trades.”
State leaders anticipate the Marshall Plan for Talent will move the state further faster, knowing it will have more than 800,000 jobs to fill through 2024 in high-demand career fields like manufacturing and information technology.
Roger Curtis is Director of the Michigan Department of Talent & Economic Development. He contends, “Michigan is not letting up, nor will it sit on the sidelines. This survey reaffirms we’re headed up the right path, but there’s still more work to be done.” He adds, “Through efforts like the Marshall Plan for Talent, we will continue to push Michigan even further in the race for the best place to do business and find talent.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Mason, who heads up the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as its CEO notes, “Our efforts to put in place a competitive tax structure, recruit and retain talent, and support vibrant communities have proven to be an effective strategy in growing Michigan’s economy.” He says, “CEOs across the country are taking notice, with Michigan ranked among the top five states for major new and expanded facilities, and more than half a million new private sector jobs in the state since 2011.”
Michigan’s improvement was the second-largest gain among states this year, next to Rhode Island which jumped 10 spots to #32.
