FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2022
Contact: Press@michigan.gov
Gov. Whitmer Statement on Monthly Jobs Report
Unemployment decreases to 4.2%, 26,000 jobs added
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the following statement after the release of the latest economic numbers showing Michigan’s economy added 26,000 jobs and unemployment fell to 4.2% in July. Over the last 12 months, the state has added 133,000 jobs and the unemployment rate has decreased by 2.0 percentage points, from 6.2% to 4.2%.
“Michigan is on the move. Thanks to our hardworking people and innovative small businesses, our economy continues to add jobs at a strong pace and unemployment is low. We will keep building on our growth, creating good-paying jobs, and lowering costs for families.
“In July, I signed my fourth balanced, bipartisan budget that delivers on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michiganders. The fiscally responsible budget brings our rainy-day fund to an all-time high of $1.6 billion, pays down billions in debt, and does not raise taxes by a dime. It makes critical investments in economic development, key projects, and our workforce.
“I will work with anyone to ensure that working families have enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table. We must use the billions in state resources we still have on the table to offer real relief right now. I have proposed sending working families $500 inflation relief rebate checks, rolling back the retirement tax on our seniors saving them $1,000 a year, tripling a tax credit to deliver a $3,000 tax refund to 730,000 families, and suspending the states sales tax on gas and school supplie …