Unemployment in Michigan is at its lowest point in 14 years, but the state’s economic recovery hasn’t reached everyone yet. In fact, the number of children living in poverty has actually increased since the end of the Great Recession.
There’s a lot of talk these days about Michigan’s economic comeback. Gov. Rick Snyder and business groups point to a shrinking unemployment rate and an increase in manufacturing jobs as signs that Michigan is back on track, but the economic recovery isn’t impacting everyone in the state equally. While the unemployment rate is dropping, the number children in poor families continues to increase.
According to the latest Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, one in five Michigan kids are now living in poverty.
Current State talks about what’s behind those numbers with Alicia Guevara Warren, who directs the Kids Count project for the Michigan League for Public Policy.