In Michigan, the reality of our labor market might surprise you. The fact that almost half of Michigan families struggle to afford basic necessities is due to a combination of factors. But at it’s heart, it’s simple: too many jobs in Michigan are low-wage. And those wages have gotten lower in the past thirty years, while the cost of living has continued to rise. While new data aren’t available yet, the numbers here are likely to be worse after the coronavirus pandemic.
The share of jobs in Michigan that pay less than $20 an hour.
Since 1989, the real mean income has grown for the top 40 percent of Michigan households. For the bottom 60 percent, it has declined.
The gap between Michigan’s per capita income and the rest of the nation’s.
More and more, good wages are dependent on higher education levels. 79% of the higher-paying jobs in Michigan require a college degree—or higher.
In every county in Michigan, 25% or more of families can’t afford basic necessities.
Michigan’s rank, nationally, in per capita earnings in wages and benefits.
The majority of jobs in Michigan are in the lower-wage category; they are in occupations that pay less than the national median.
The average wage one adult needs to earn, per hour, working full-time, to support a family with two children in Michigan today.