Michigan – our house is on FIRE – No state has falled harder or faster in per capita income and education performance. Michigan cannot solve its problem without first admitting it has one.

Michigan’s house is on fire.

What’s worse – no one is talking about it.

Michigan cannot turn things around without first understanding where we stand today. Addressing our challenges and embracing opportunities requires candor and a fact-based conversation.

Michigan's Rankings Are Far Lower Than Michiganians Think They Are

A statewide poll asked respondents to rank the state of Michigan across key economic metrics, and voters across the political spectrum incorrectly view Michigan as “average” despite near-last rankings on the economy and education. Worse yet, these findings suggest voters are not only unaware of Michigan’s poor performance, but they may accept “average” as acceptable.

The polling stems from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s regular statewide polling in partnership with the Glengariff Group, Inc. See the full poll results.

% of population with a college degree

Voters' Rankings

#26

Actual Rankings

#33

4th grade reading score

Voters' Rankings

#27

Actual Rankings

#44

Unemployment rate

Voters' Rankings

#29

Actual Rankings

#45

Average per capita income per person

Voters' Rankings

#27

Actual Rankings

#40

Attracting high-tech jobs

Voters' Rankings

#28

Actual Rankings

#45

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Detroit Regional Chamber Michigan Voter Poll, February 2026.

A Wake-up Call for Business Leaders, Lawmakers, and Voters

The 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference opened with a clear warning from Detroit Regional Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Sandy K. Baruah and Conference Chair Bob Riney of Henry Ford Health: Michigan cannot afford to ignore its long-term decline in several key measures of economic strength and competitiveness.

Both implored how Michigan must move away from short-term policy reversals and toward a more stable, predictable strategy that supports growth, attracts investment, and creates confidence for the future. Their closing message was that Michigan’s challenges are serious, but not irreversible, because “this is a state worth fighting for” and “a state worth winning.”

“On nearly every metric we tested, Michigan voters believe the state is doing average against the other states. The reality is that Michigan is doing far worse. Michigan voters have no clue how we stack up against the other states."

"In just one generation, Michigan has fallen from a top 10 or 20 state to a bottom 10 state in per capita income and educational achievement, which is not a recipe for economic success."

The Detroit Regional Chamber will be working with statewide partners to continue the conversation and develop the right solutions to reverse Michigan’s precipitous decline by leverage the state’s strengths and assets. Those solutions and thought leader leadership from the Chamber and partner organizations will appear here in the coming weeks and months as they are developed. The site remains a work in progress.