2011 numbers say Michigan's mass exodus may be over
The 2010 census pegged Michigan as the only state to lose population over the last 10 years, but there are signs that the population has stabilized, and that most of us left here may be here to stay.
The most recent sign, a study released by Atlas Van Lines, says they moved 1720 households out of Michigan last year and 1644 in, enough to put the state in the "balanced" category for the first time in 6 years. Atlas also says because of their large market share in Michigan they tend to move more people out of the state, so the news may be even better than the survey indicates.
UM Flint economics professor Chris Douglas says Michigan still has a great deal of catching up to do with the rest of the country.
"If you look at 2001 to 2008 it was more of a slow decline where we said Michigan was in a one state recession and then 2008 to 2009 was a fall off a cliff so I think maybe we're back off the cliff." Douglas says it is a good sign that Michigan is more on board with the national recovery this time. "We might be recovering slightly faster than the other states but we're also kind of behind where the other states were whether the other states didn't suffer the "one state recession" like we did.
Douglas cites the automotive recovering as being helpful in stopping Michigan's economic decline but also points to other sectors such as medicine and education, locally referencing the colleges and universities in Flint and the rise of Diplomat Pharmacy as a major employer in the area.
