Gov. Rick Snyder is taking credit for eight years of job creation during his administration capped by Wednesday’s report that Michigan’s unemployment rate in November remained at 3.9 percent.
Snyder says the state’s unemployment rate was 11.3 percent when he took office Jan. 1, 2011, and reports 560,000 private-sector jobs were created on his watch. His last day in office is Dec. 31.
“I ran for governor eight years ago because I wanted to make a difference,” says Snyder. “I wanted a state where our kids didn’t have to leave to find work. I wanted to spur job creation, reinvent our state, and help make Michigan a place where families could build a successful life.
“The unemployment rate is at its lowest rate in 18 years. Not only are kids staying in Michigan, we have families being reunited as more Michiganders have come home.”
According to the governor’s office, major job gains over the past eight years have occurred in the following areas:
• Manufacturing (+143,000)
• Professional & business services (+121,000) with job gains in professional, scientific & technical services and in the temporary help sector
• Health care services (+65,000)
• Accommodation & food services (+60,000)
• Construction (+53,000)
Job losses over this period were concentrated in the government sector, with a reduction of 12,000 taxpayer-funded jobs.
More recent trends over the past year where significant job growth has occurred includes engineering services, transportation and warehousing, ambulatory health care services, construction, and management of companies.
“Eight years ago, it was difficult to find a job in Michigan,” Snyder adds. “Today, it’s difficult to fill the jobs we have. That’s a good problem to have and one that we are already on our way to solving. We just can’t allow ourselves to become content or complacent. We need to keep Michigan’s momentum going.”
