A year after some feared collapse, Michigan’s economy is weathering the storm but warning signs remain. Jobs in the hospitality industry, exemplified here by Mackinac Island, are down. Here are more than two dozen metics you need to know to understand the recovery, from average income and housing prices to debt and productivity.
Michigan unemployment
Posted inQuality of Life
How $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus plan will impact Michigan
The extraordinary package expected to come to a U.S. House vote as soon as Tuesday provides months of economic protection to households across Michigan, too much say some critics. Here are some ways families, schools and businesses will be impacted.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan unemployment system surprised by so many COVID claims. Again.
What happens when you tell jobless workers to log in on Monday? They log in. Up to 340,000 login attempts per hour set a new record, crashing the state’s system as workers tried to reset benefits that expired in December.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan workers endure another glitch in unemployment's computer system
The state’s computer system Monday was unresponsive for many workers seeking access to the unemployment benefits system. It’s the latest in a series of technology failures impacting workers put out of work by COVID.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Lawmakers must act to protect unemployed Michiganders into 2021
When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, Michigan will still be grappling with COVID, which is why lawmakers must act to improve the state’s unemployment system.
Posted inMichigan Government
Jobless benefits, COVID stimulus likely focus of Michigan lame-duck session
Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican lawmakers are preparing separate stimulus proposals, while some extension of unemployment benefits is possible during a lame-duck session that probably will be less dramatic than previous years.
Posted inMichigan Government
Reformer hired to fix Michigan’s unemployment system quits as problems mount
Steve Gray was brought in to resolve problems getting benefits that he helped expose. But a little more than a year into the job, he has resigned from the system that was overrun by the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan unemployment: the latest updates on fraud, stop payments and more
Some say it’s time for full reform. Others just want to make sure the state’s overwhelmed unemployment benefit system can handle today’s claims.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers expand unemployment benefits, pass business COVID liability
In a marathon session, the GOP-led Legislature also passed bills demanding subpoena power over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appointees and approved a non-binding measure opposing defunding the police.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan benefited from COVID stimulus and jobless aid. Now what?
Economic relief programs that helped the state’s businesses and jobless now are on hold as the United States pauses new stimulus talks and the state confronts upheaval that impacts state unemployment benefits.