Mackinac Policy Conference: How Michigan can improve its economic competitiveness
Michigan has been less competitive economically and educationally in contrast with its southern neighbor states, says Jeff Donofrio, the CEO and president of the Business Leaders For Michigan nonprofit.
The health of Michigan’s businesses is tied to the state’s economic outputs. And those businesses are dependent on the well-being and educational strength of Michigan schools, which have been sliding in national rankings over the past decade.
Some business leaders, including Business Leaders For Michigan’s Jeff Donofrio, believe that Michigan needs to invest in its schools.
“We need to make sure that we invest in people. One of the things we’ve struggled with in Michigan is that we’re 41st in labor force participation rates, we’re 44th in growth. So, we have a lot of people we need to get back into the workforce and a lot of people we need to help move along a career pathway.” – Jeff Donofrio, CEO and president of Business Leaders For Michigan
Listen: The state of Michigan’s economy — and what needs to be done to improve it.
Guest
Jeff Donofrio is the CEO and president of the Business Leaders For Michigan nonprofit, which represents the state’s largest employers. Donofrio says the largest state employers put more than $1 trillion into the economy each year. He wants the state to focus on investments in K-12 education, attracting more people to the state and increasing infrastructure investment.
“We need to make sure that we invest in people,” says Donofrio. “One of the things we’ve struggled with in Michigan is that we’re 41st in labor force participation rates, we’re 44th in growth. So, we have a lot of people we need to get back into the workforce and a lot of people we need to help move along a career pathway.”
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