[burgler09]

I know, I wasn't finger pointing. My dad is in the tool-n-die trade and has been laid off multiple times. There are multiple reasons, but the downward trend in Michigan is mainly due to the ever so changing of our industry. The white-collar workers that are losing their jobs are the ones who were affiliated with these companies that are leaving. Its not because of the blue collar workers, it is because of the workers in general and the harsh tax that michigan puts on the businesses. It is not very accomodating to be a business owner in Michigan.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by burgler09

I know, I wasn't finger pointing. My dad is in the tool-n-die trade and has been laid off multiple times. There are multiple reasons, but the downward trend in Michigan is mainly due to the ever so changing of our industry. The white-collar workers that are losing their jobs are the ones who were affiliated with these companies that are leaving. Its not because of the blue collar workers, it is because of the workers in general and the harsh tax that michigan puts on the businesses. It is not very accomodating to be a business owner in Michigan.

Michigan is a very hard state to do business in.

[Cliffie]

Not just because of taxes, that's for sure. The fact is, there is a lot less work in every field, unless you are a nurse or medical assistant.

It boggles my mind that there ARE so few jobs for unskilled people, and never mind the pay scale. There used to be a steady demand for general labor, entry-level jobs you could train for, all kinds of factory and manufacturing work. Now people are contending hotly for minimum-wage fast-food jobs!

[h8bread]

It's not just young people in their 20's leaving the state. We're in our 50's and have to move out of the state to work because there's nothing here but "WalMart" type jobs. We grew up in MI and love MI and wouldn't move otherwise. The auto industry closures have had a ripple effect eveywhere here.

[burgler09]

Why do I have such an easy time picking up jobs?

[kimba01]

Originally Posted by h8bread

It's not just young people in their 20's leaving the state. We're in our 50's and have to move out of the state to work because there's nothing here but "WalMart" type jobs. We grew up in MI and love MI and wouldn't move otherwise. The auto industry closures have had a ripple effect eveywhere here.

I hear you there and totally agree. We are in our 30s & 40s and the story is the same. Fortunately there are other places we can go, but moving away from everything you have ever known and your families can be very stressful. And although I am not a big fan of winter at all, I will miss the changing of the seasons for sure.

I do that the unskilled workers need decent jobs also. Some could not afford college or just don't have the academic savvy to do well. Yet they are great in other areas. I am not saying they need to make more than a degreed person but...they spend their money too and it all goes back into the system. That is what we are losing.

[masterofear]

Michigan is not going to keep afloat with oil going to 150 a bbl and up. the last two auto companies GM and Ford are so far behind the curve they can not make up the distance the Japanese are ahead.

[buggyboo522]

Ok, maybe all the whining is due to the fact that everyone is LOSING THEIR JOBS. Our main industry here is the automotive industry. Thus the name "The Motor City." And our auto plants are being closed down, or laying people off. It's a little hard to be happy go lucky when you've lost your job, can't find a new one, your house is going into foreclosure, and you have bill collectors calling you all the time wanting to know where their $$$ is. It's not whining. It's reality. And it sucks. That is why we are moving out of state too. I always said I'd never every leave MI. It is a beautiful state. We have most of our family here. But what are our choices? We have 4 kids, a Wal Mart job can't support a large family. I know the whole country is suffering right now, but anywhere has to be better than here.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by h8bread

It's not just young people in their 20's leaving the state. We're in our 50's and have to move out of the state to work because there's nothing here but "WalMart" type jobs. We grew up in MI and love MI and wouldn't move otherwise. The auto industry closures have had a ripple effect eveywhere here.

Here's a song all that reminds me of:


YouTube - Iris Dement - Our Town

[lakefrontgirl]

Its much worse than you think. My husband and I moved our family here for a better life back in 2002 when they were saying this was the place to be for jobs, lower cost life style, etc.
Now...there are no jobs that pay, great companies that pay very low, we moved here from California for a better life and have had nothing but worse since we arrived. This is listed as the #2 place NOT to want to live or work. Michigan isnt what it used to be and from what they say on the news its only getting worse. We now, after being here for 6 yrs are relocating to Raleigh, NC in August and I cant wait to get out of here. A place with roads that arent pothole crazy and summers arent rainy all season, snow is seen every few years and only an inch at that, and the same population we have in grand rapids is in Raleigh but they have every store and fun stuff to do that we had back in the bay area and along the LA coast in Cali. This isnt where you want to be living. Its sad actually because the lake is pretty, altho I prefer the ocean over it anyday!