I moved from SW Michigan back in Mar to come live in sunny Florida. As of late I’ve been thinking about moving back north since I am unable to find a job down here. I just want to see whats going on in MI. Hows the job market? How is Grand Rapids(my ideal spot to move back to) and Kzoo? Whats the overall attitude of the state these days.
So come on all you Mitten state dopers, lemme know whats up back in the great white north.
I think most people are going to tell you the same basic thing.
Times are very tough, the auto industry is struggling tremendously, and jobs are being lost by the thousands. Michigan is going through one of its worst times ever.
What kind of job do you want?
Moved out a few years ago because of the job situation. From what everyone tells me, it’s pretty bad. I think I would line up a job first before moving back.
On the plus side, my employed friends are getting good deals on housing:(
if you were in a position to telecommute from your present job, it would perhaps be worth moving there and getting a great deal on a house=)
Yeah, if finding a job is your difficulty from what I hear Michigan is worse than Florida. Michigan is one of the worst places in the nation to find a job from what I understand. The good deals on housing are because no one can sell their houses. Houses are going for like 20k a pop or so I hear.
Do you enjoy living places with over 9% unemployment (worst in the nation)? Where jobs have declined by 20,000 over the last month?
http://www.milmi.org/
The economy is in the shitter. All love to Michigan, but you’re better off where you are. Pretty much definitionally.
The economy here is terrible. I’m currently in GR, with a bunch of friends that are graduating/looking for jobs in a sector where there are usually jobs available (IT), and they are having some trouble. Not good. Many places are at minimum putting holds on hiring. It’s not as bad in GR as it is in other places in the state, but it still certainly isn’t good.
If you are having trouble there, being in Michigan will certainly not be an improvement.
As far as overall attitude of the state, that isn’t very good either. I mean, being from MI hasn’t been much to brag about for a while (unfortunately. I love this state, most of the time). We are into winter, and because of the total lack of money, many places are cutting back on snow removal/salt/etc, which will make this winter especially jolly, I’m sure. The roads, which are usually junk, have had repair budgets cut as well, meaning even more potholes. With the Big Three going under, all the places that make parts (which are everywhere) are either cutting jobs or thinking about it, making those people particularly tense.
To sum it up, the mood reflects the economy: Not Good.
I just moved away from there. From what relatives keep telling me, it’s not getting any better at all. I definitely don’t regret my move anymore and I have no plans on moving back in the near future. Seems like it’s only continuing to go downhill. 
The UP hasn’t been affected by the economic downturn at all. It’s still the same - lots of snow, no jobs, and plenty of strong drink. Come on up!
Tri-City area here. If you were here I’d tell you to flee. But since you aren’t here, don’t bother unless you have a job lined up. I went back to school thinking to grab that piece of paper and try an improve my lot in life. I got done August of 08’. Some perfect timing on my part.
In Lansing here.
Send bus passes out for the rest of us still stuck here. And jobs. (But mostly the bus passes.)
layoffs,lake effect and dropping temps. Stay in Florida (where are you?).
I have friends who moved from Long Island NY to St Lucie area and turned around and came back home after a month or two, no jobs there and his PO job in NY put all transfers on hold. They feel if they went south to Lauderdale or Miami he would have found a job, but they want nothing to do with Dade and Broward counties.
Check out Michworks.org for job postings!