For Immediate Release
September 4, 2017
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517.487.5436
Since 2000, Michigan has lost 326,000 workers, seen labor participation rate go up for older workers, down for younger workers
LANSING—Since 2000, Michigan’s labor force has lost 326,000 workers, driven largely by a drop in workers 16-24 years old, according to the 2017 Labor Day report released today by the Michigan League for Public Policy. The report shows that while Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent for July—the lowest jobless rate since 2000—this decline can be attributed as much to worker attrition as economic improvement.
Workers drop out of a state’s labor force in several ways: physically leaving the state, death, institutionalization (i.e., incarceration), or stopping both work and the search for work (i.e., retirement, disability, staying home with children, etc.). Michigan’s labor force reached its numerical peak of 5.16 million in 2000 and was down to under 4.84 million for 2016, showing a net loss of 326,000 workers.
“How Michigan’s economy is doing depends on which worker or policymaker you talk to and what data you look at,” said Gilda Z. Jacobs, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Michigan’s declining unemployment rate is certainly good news, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Since the unemployment rate was last this low in 2000, Michigan has been steadily losing workers, and our workforce is getting older, neither of which bodes well for our economic future.”
Michigan’s labor force participation rate, which measures the percent of the civilian population 16 years old and over that is working or looking for work, has been at a historic low for several years. Its high-water mark was 69 percent in 2000, but fell to a low of 60 percent in 2011 and 2012, where it has hovered since, despite the improving unemployment rate. In the same way, while Michigan’s employment-population ratio shows clear improvement since 2011 concurrent with falling unemployment, it is below where it was during the economically difficult years of the early and mid-2000s and the 20 years prior.
Michigan’s labor force has also begun to shift toward older workers. From 1979 (the earliest year data on worker ages is available) to 2000, the share of Michigan’s labor force that was 55 years of age or older was between 10-13 percent annually. Following 2000, however, this age group began comprising a steadily larger share of the workforce, and in 2016 their share (22.2 percent) nearly doubled that in 2000, while the portion in prime working age decreased from 70.4 percent to 62.3 percent over that span.
Younger workers, those from age 16-24, comprised a moderately smaller share of the workforce in 2016 (15.4 percent) than in 2000 (17.9 percent) but considerably smaller than in 1979, when they accounted for more than a quarter of the workforce. In keeping with the pattern of the previous 20 years, 72 percent of residents aged 16-24 were either working or looking for work in 2000. That percentage took a sharp and steady plunge over the following decade, bottoming out near 50 percent in 2011 sitting at 63 percent for 2016.
“We’ve all seen this data in action. Think about your daily life and the variety of workers you encounter in jobs that young people used to hold—a fast food worker, a grocery bagger, a restaurant server,” Jacobs said. “Lawmakers need to look at these changing demographics and embrace policies that help younger and older workers alike get the education, skills and training they need to get the jobs that they want.”
Although a higher portion of older individuals are remaining in the workforce, as they retire there are fewer younger workers to replace them. The League’s Labor Day Report offers the following policy recommendations for legislators to strengthen Michigan’s workforce at both ends of the age scale:
- Make college education less expensive by lowering tuition and increasing financial aid, which will help cut down on student debt;
- Encourage universities to offer more academically relevant work-study for students with low incomes so that they may gain meaningful work experience;
- Make postsecondary training for “middle skills credentials” (a short-term or two-year credential such as a license, certificate or associate degree) more accessible to young people, especially those who live in areas with high unemployment and poverty and few available jobs;
- Provide support services to young single mothers that encourage them to participate in postsecondary education or training and facilitate their completion and success; and
- Retain Medicaid expansion in order to help provide healthcare for older workers earning lower wages.
To read the full Labor Day report and see labor force and jobless rate data for all 83 counties, go to www.mlpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Labor-Day-Sept-2017.pdf.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
