THE FACTS:
LANSING EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Overview:
• The RGA television attack ads for Rick Snyder claim that Lansing’s unemployment
rate “increased by 88%” during the Bernero administration, grossly
misrepresenting Lansing as having one of the worst unemployment increases in
Michigan. In fact, the City of Lansing has had one of the lowest unemployment
increases of any city in Michigan from January 2006 to July 2010.
• The Lansing region currently has the second lowest unemployment rate of any
metro region in the state.
• The Lansing region has added more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs since December
2009.
• Under the leadership of Mayor Virg Bernero, job growth in the Lansing region
leads the state of Michigan and is among the top 10 in the country according to a
report released on October 14, 2010 by the Milken Institute.
Summary
The Snyder campaign, with the help of the Republican Governors Association, has attempted to
distort Mayor Bernero’s record of job creation by claiming that Lansing has experienced one of the
highest unemployment rate increases in the state. In fact, the opposite is true: The City of Lansing
has had one of the lowest unemployment rate increases of any city in Michigan since January 2006.
And, because Mayor Bernero’s economic development successes -- and the employment they
generate -- are regional in scope, a more accurate barometer of his success is the fact that the Lansing
region has the second lowest unemployment rate of any metro region in the state and is the top
performing economy in the state of Michigan. The Lansing region is also experiencing one of the
strongest economic comebacks in Michigan with more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs added just
since January of this year.
Paid for by Virg Bernero for Michigan, P.O. Box 10067, Lansing MI 48901
Documentation attached.
The Facts: Lansing Area Employment and Unemployment
Supporting documents
FACT: Since January 2006, the City of Lansing has experienced one of the
lowest unemployment rate increases of any city in Michigan.
Jan-06 Jul-10 % chg
Kalamazoo 6.9 17.2 149.3
Ann Arbor 4.7 10.7 127.7
Sterling Heights 5.5 11.9 116.4
Muskegon 8.9 19 113.5
Warren 8.4 17.6 109.5
Grand Rapids 7.7 16 107.8
Livonia 3.2 6.5 103.1
Jackson 10.1 20.1 99.0
Pontiac 16 31.6 97.5
Dearborn 5.5 10.7 94.5
Michigan 7.2 14 94.4
Battle Creek 8 15 87.5
Lansing 8.6 16 86.0
Detroit 14.1 25.5 80.9
Flint 14.3 25.7 79.7
Bay City 7.9 13.6 72.2
Saginaw 13.4 21.7 61.9
SOURCE: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
Labor www.bls.gov
FACT: Lansing has the second lowest unemployment rate of any metro region in
Michigan.
Ann Arbor 8.8
Lansing 10.1
Grand Rapids 10.7
Battle Creek 11.3
Holland 11.3
Bay City 11.5
Saginaw 11.8
Benton Harbor 12.4
Jackson 12.8
Michigan 12.9
Monroe 12.9
Muskegon 13.5
Flint 13.9
Detroit 14.4
SOURCE: Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of
Labor www.bls.gov
The Facts: Lansing Area Employment and Unemployment
Supporting documents
FACT: Since December 2009, the Lansing area has added more than 2,000
manufacturing jobs.
SOURCE: Current Employment Statistics (CES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
www.bls.gov
(continued, next page)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 20, 2010
CONTACT:
Cullen Schwarz
517-580-9041
Cullen@votevirg.com
Lansing Job Gains Among Best in Nation
Report Shows Lansing Region Top Performing Economy in
State, Only Metro Area in Michigan to Gain Jobs in Past
Year
LANSING, MICH. – Under the leadership of Mayor Virg Bernero, job growth in
the Lansing region is among the top 10 in the country according to a new report
released this week. The report from the Milken institute, an independent think
tank, shows the Lansing region is also the top performing economy in the state of
Michigan.
“When you have a real, concrete jobs plan, you get results,” said Democratic
gubernatorial nominee Bernero. “My opponent has no real economic plan so his
people twist the facts and falsely disparage my city. But now we have further
proof that Lansing’s job growth is among the best in the nation. We can make
Michigan’s job growth among the best in the nation as well.”
In their annual report, “Best-Performing Cities 2010: Where America's Jobs Are
Created and Sustained,” the Milken Institute ranks the nation’s 200 largest metro
areas based on nine key economic indicators. The report shows job gains in the
Lansing area since April 2009 were the 7th highest of any metro region in America.
Milken also shows the Lansing region is the top performing economy in Michigan
and was the only metro area in Michigan to have positive job
growth over the past year (April ’09 – April ’10). According to the report Lansing
is also Michigan’s fastest growing economy, rising 38 positions on
the index last year, the largest year-over-year jump of any Michigan city.
Rick Snyder’s special interests are funding millions of dollars in ads noting
Lansing’s unemployment rate has risen in recent years. They neglect to mention
that unemployment has risen across the entire state and around the country in the
midst of a Wall Street-induced economic collapse—but that Lansing’s
unemployment increase is among the lowest among all Michigan cities. Lansing
far outperformed the state as a whole, which saw a 135 percent increase in
unemployment since January 2006. Lansing also fared better than the rest of the
country, as unemployment rose 113 percent nationwide. The Lansing region’s
unemployment rate is the 2nd lowest in Michigan. Today’s report is just further
objective evidence that Bernero is helping Lansing lead the state and nation’s
economic recovery.
Earning a spot as one of the top 10 for job growth is not the only national list on
which Lansing has earned a place under Mayor Bernero. Kiplinger recently ranked
Lansing among its Top Ten Cities in America for Young Professionals.
To read the full Milken Institute report click here.
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