Steelcase moved manufacturing to Mexico to save on labor. Herman Miller and Haworth have largely stayed put, with few regrets.
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
Help Wanted: Yes, there really are 70,000 good jobs open
Well-paying jobs in manufacturing, health care and engineering are plentiful in Michigan, but our high school grads still lack the goods to grab them. Experts urge more focus on raising math and problem-solving skills.
Posted inBusiness Watch
More money. More jobs?
Southeast Michigan is poised to get a share of $1.3 billion in U.S. economic development grants. Lisa Baragar Katz, executive director of the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeastern Michigan tells Bridge how the money should be spent.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Cherry wars: The crazy economics of Michigan’s favorite pitted fruit
Cherries dumped in ditches? Polish imports? With the National Cherry Festival in full swing, one cherry producer is left with a sour taste.
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Among an influx of scholars, an emerging new face of Michigan
The state’s colleges and universities – and even its high schools – are magnets for international students. Can they be persuaded to stay?
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Michigan residents below average in 'real' income
New federal income statistics allow workers and businesses to compare how far their paychecks will stretch in different cities and states.
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Tension on Au Sable and Manistee rivers
A conservation group squares off against Encana over frack drilling near a Michigan fly fishing haven.
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Michigan’s fracking bonanza challenges state regulators
Michigan has seen explosive growth in hydraulic fracturing, bringing a mix of high-paying jobs and environmental and health concerns to rural communities.
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Oil and gas is big business for Kalkaska County
Oil and gas field workers average $64,000 in Kalkaska County, a region where unemployment still tops 10 percent.
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Fracking's Hollywood problem
One indelible image related to hydraulic fracturing – that of a homeowner setting his own water on fire – has dogged the fracking industry since the release of "Gasland," a documentary.