Editorial

Schauer Job Numbers a Mystery

In a meme on his Facebook page, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer posts this image:

The former Congressman comments:

The problem? The statement in the meme is incorrect.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Michigan ranks 20th in the nation in job growth at 5.5 percent since Gov. Rick Snyder took office. The BLS state and metro area employment report gives that measure over the time period of January 2011 to May 2014.

It is unclear where the figure in the image comes from, but probably from a model done by Bridge Magazine. But that is simply a rough projection over the next decade and not based on recent policy decisions (it actually shows Michigan improving from 50th during the Granholm administration).

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.