Michigan's Technology Workforce 10th Largest In Nation

Governor Granholm has been very candid about the need to transform our economy here in Michigan to compensate for the decline in manufacturing that once guaranteed high-paying jobs. Her administration developed the 21st Century Jobs Fund to spark new investment, create high-tech corridors and provide jobs which will diversify our economy. Looking to the future is the right step to take, and it appears Michigan is making inroads in this area according to Michigan Technology News:

Michigan's technology employment ranked as the 10th largest in the United States in 2004, adding some $13 billion in payroll to the state's economy, according to a report just released by Cyberstate.

The majority of those tech jobs fell into two sectors: research and development and testing labs; and engineering services. [...]

High-tech firms employed 49 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, ranked 21st nationwide

High-tech workers earned an average wage of $70,800 (15th ranked), or 75 percent more than Michigan's average private sector wage.

This is encouraging news, but Michigan's turnaround will take time. We've lost 256,000 manufacturing jobs over the last decade and the Bush administration has done virtually nothing to help, except to appoint a manufacturing czar the Detroit News calls invisible.

Michigan's lawmakers are unhappy with {Czar} Albert Frink who earns $143,000 a year and has been at only one meeting with Bush. Rep. John Dingell (D) called his office "about as useful as side pockets on a cow," and Rep. Mike Rogers (R) said, "That job came in like a lion and has lingered around like a mouse in the landscape of Washington...(The Bush administration) talks a great game, but they are moving in inches and we are losing in miles."

To show how apathetic Frink is about Michigan's plight, he's only met a few of the state's House members, and has never met Michigan's top political figures: Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sens. Carl Levin (D) and Debbie Stabenow (D).

Asked what he has to say to Michigan companies and workers still facing rocky times in the next few years, he said, "I think you have a government and an administration that cares. I do believe Michigan folks will find a way to overcome the competitive difficulties they are dealing with. As some jobs are lost, new ones are created."

On that point, Frink is almost right. Michigan's governor and legislator's care, and we will find a way to overcome the difficulties - no thanks to the Bush administration.