New Statewide Survey Reveals Priorities for Michigan Residents Ages 18-29: Get the Fundamentals Right, Diversify the Economy, Create a Welcoming State

• Just 64% of respondents say they see themselves living in Michigan in 10 years, and those who plan to leave don’t think there are enough job opportunities in the state.
• Improving infrastructure is the top factor respondents say would make Michigan better, and affordable housing is a top concern when deciding whether to take a job in the state or elsewhere.

The Detroit Regional Chamber and Business Leaders for Michigan today released findings of a new statewide poll to better understand the key economic and lifestyle factors that influence 18-29-year-old Michiganders’ choices. Insights about the decisions this key demographic makes about where to live are critically important as business and government leaders explore ways to address the state’s declining population. The poll of 600 Michigan residents was conducted by research firm The Glengariff Group, Inc. from Aug. 14 to 19, 2023.

The findings indicate this generation’s desire to put down roots in a place that provides job opportunities, gets the fundamentals right, and creates a welcoming environment. Policymakers and employers must focus on all three of these areas to attract and retain population in Michigan.

Survey Profile and Purpose

Michigan’s population challenges have long been a concern as employers struggle to fill jobs and the state loses national influence. Michigan is losing 8,000 working-age adults (ages 18-64) annually to communities that are growing fastest in the knowledge economy. The survey found only 64% of respondents say they see themselves living in Michigan in 10 years, and those who are college-educated are the most likely to say they expect to leave the state.

Business Leaders for Michigan and the Detroit Regional Chamber sought to capture the priorities and perceptions of young adults under age 30 as the state charts a course for its economic and social future. The state’s Growing Michigan Together Council, first announced at the 2023 Mackinac Policy Conference, can use the insights from this survey as they craft solutions to reverse Michigan’s population trends.

When asked where they see themselves living 10 years from now, respondents said:

All respondents were asked, on a scale of one to 10, how likely it was that they would be living in Michigan 10 years from now, 10 being the most likely. When broken down by education level, those with a bachelor’s degree or higher ranked least likely to stay.

Michigan’s talent retention challenges lie in the fact that the key portion of the population equipped to fill the state’s needs in high-tech and knowledge economy jobs are the most likely to leave the state.

15% of all respondents said Michigan offered less opportunity than other states. When asked why in an open-ended question, they said:

While 80.7% of all respondents said Michigan does offer strong career opportunities in their chosen field, those who don’t plan to stay in the state disagreed, citing a lack of opportunities in specific industries – primarily in knowledge economy industries.

The largest difference was based on whether a respondent planned to leave Michigan in the next 10 years. 

79.3% of those planning to be in Michigan and 75.0% of those who were unsure of their location were optimistic about their economic future in Michigan. Only 59.2% of those who planned to leave Michigan were optimistic about their economic future.

There were only four demographic groups where more than 20% of respondents believed Michigan had less opportunity than other locations.

Respondents were asked if they were offered similar job opportunities with similar salaries, would they choose to live in Michigan over different states or cities.

89.2%  Would Choose a Job in Michigan Over California

Democratic respondents and those who do not vote would be most likely to choose California.  Virtually no Republican or Independent respondents chose California.

87.2%  Would Choose a Job in Michigan Over Chicago

Chicago presented the strongest draw for college-educated respondents and was a strong draw for Democratic respondents, attracting 16.2% of Strong Democrats and 14.0% of Leaning Democrats.

80.2% Would Choose a Job in Michigan Over Texas

There were sharp partisan differences in the choice between Michigan and Texas.

Respondents were read 12 different factors and asked to rank each on a one to 10 scale for how important it would be to them in deciding between a job offer in Michigan and a comparable job offer in another state.

The higher the number, the greater the personal importance:

While housing cost is an issue across the nation, Michigan’s relatively more affordable housing is a potential competitive advantage. Efforts to create more affordable housing in the right areas will be critical to the state’s population gains.

Infrastructure, Job Opportunities, Lower Costs Among Suggestions of What Would Make Michigan Better

Respondents were asked an open-ended question: If there was one thing that would make Michigan a better place to live and work, what would it be?

Responses were categorized as follows:

All respondents were asked what Michigan’s biggest challenges are that might cause them to leave.

These respondents were asked why they might leave in an open-ended question.

When asked where specifically they would be living, there was a mix of responses, with the top three being:

In an open-ended question about other specific locations they would be interested in instead of Michigan, respondents shared:

While economic opportunities and placemaking are of foremost importance to respondents, a state’s social policies also play an important role. While far from monolithic in their opinions, 18-29-year-old Michiganders consider a range of welcoming and socially conscious policies.

Respondents were asked if a state’s gun policies, including background checks, red flag laws, and safe storage laws, would or would not be important in deciding whether to accept a job in a state.

A majority of every demographic group – except for rural, Strong Republican, Leaning Republican, or respondents that do not vote – said gun policy was important and that they supported the laws.

Respondents were asked if a state’s policy on LGBTQ rights would or would not be important in deciding whether to accept a job in another state.

Respondents were asked if a state’s policies on racial equality would or would not be important in deciding whether to accept a job in another state.

Respondents were asked if a state’s policy on abortion would or would not be important in deciding whether to accept a job in another state.

Among women, 61.5% said a state’s position on abortion would be important, and they were pro-choice.