Michigan employers large and small say they can’t fill open positions. But General Motors still has lots of pull in a labor market where people remember the pay and stability of an auto job in GM factories.
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.
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Michigan drops COVID-19 safety restrictions in most workplaces
Employers outside of health care settings now can choose whether to keep mask requirements, social distancing measures and plastic barriers to protect workers.
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Canadian border restrictions frustrate Michigan businesses and travelers
Border businesses and the state’s tourism industry suffer as COVID limits prevent Canadian visitors for another month at least. And state residents with the travel bug or property in Canada also can’t cross. One official said it could be Thanksgiving before the border opens.
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A Michigan mall’s transformation: From Macy’s to self-storage
Storage units crammed with old couches and kitchenware are a long way from designer fashion. But as retail changes, so are the types of businesses that will survive in former anchor stores in the state’s malls.
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Coming soon: Struggling Michigan movie theaters await end of COVID limits
Small community theaters anchor downtowns across the state, but they had to fight to survive capacity limits and state-ordered closures during the pandemic. They hope their recovery this summer is epic.
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In Traverse City, a small parking lot offers hope for workforce housing
What will developers pay to add moderately priced apartments to downtown? The city is about to find out, as it puts one of its properties on the market.
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Lack of child care now a ‘crisis’ facing Michigan’s workforce
The state’s economic recovery from the pandemic may be limited, officials say, as fewer child care options keep women out of the workforce. It’s a business issue, too, for child care providers seeking available workers.
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Peak rates: Why daytime A/C will cost many Michigan homes more this summer
Consumers Energy customers will pay more for electricity during peak daytime weekday hours, as part of a program to try to reduce demand.
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As office workers return, a Grand Rapids dry cleaner scrimps to hang on
Office clothes are staples at Michigan’s dry cleaners, which saw revenues crater when workers stayed home during COVID. As offices now reopen, a 70-year-plus family business has new hopes for survival.
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Q&A: Michigan fitness club owner says how industry must change after COVID
Fewer gyms, virtual workouts and lingering pandemic concerns all signal changes for the state’s fitness industry as it reopens to 50 percent capacity Tuesday, said Michael Stack, owner of Applied Fitness Solutions.