In Roscommon County, fewer than 4 in 10 adults are in the workforce. The northern Michigan vacation haven is symptomatic of a statewide worker shortage crisis that has some looking for creative solutions.
Business Watch
Covering the intersection of business and policy, and informing Michigan employers and workers on the long road back from coronavirus. Our Michigan Economic Dashboard shows key metrics that show how the state is performing.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan braces for UAW strike as contract negotiations head to final week
Michigan’s large investment in automotive manufacturing makes it more vulnerable than other states to a strike against Ford, GM or Chrysler — or all three. Here’s what’s at stake as the negotiators try to beat a strike deadline next week.
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Michigan counties profited from tax foreclosure. Lawsuits to recoup millions
Across Michigan, there are several lawsuits in state and federal court arguing that former property owners, not counties, deserve profits from tax foreclosure sales.
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In Detroit, tensions over Stellantis may rise with plan to boost truck traffic
A city authority will take another 60 days to consider a traffic plan eastsiders worry would increase trucks. They already see more than 450 trucks a day
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Michigan flatlining on jobs: No job growth expected through 2030
Which comes first — job growth or population growth? Unfortunately, Michigan struggles with both.
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Michigan marijuana industry sees record sales, even as some struggle
The marijuana industry brought in $276 million last month and is projected to cross $3 billion in revenues for the first time this year. But some businesses continue to struggle from a glut of shops and relatively low prices.
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Michigan gas rises 15 cents to $3.91 a gallon, new high for the year
Higher demand and lower supply means gas prices are on the rise. Michigan’s record prices are higher than the national average.
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Great Lakes shipping continues to decline
Shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway is continuing its long-term downturn, and changes in the region’s steel industry are largely responsible for the trend, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report.
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Michigan gas up 9 cents to $3.76 a gallon, the highest this year
A recent heatwave is blamed for the increase. Michigan prices are lower than the national average, however, and below historical averages when inflation is taken into account.
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Metro Detroit I-75 project nearly done, but with some drama 100 feet below
The massive road project is slated to finish in September, ending years of traffic snarls. Less visible is an underground tunnel boring effort that avoided catastrophe when a silt pocket trapped the project’s boring machine.