(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/09/2024) For the first time in four years, a majority of Michigan voters (53 percent) say Michigan is on the right track, a survey commissioned by Detroit Regional Chamber found. However, the same data collected by the Glengariff Group found a majority say Michigan is unprepared for the economic growth of the next decade.

The 53% figure represents an 11-point gain from May 2024, when the poll reported 42% thought Michigan was headed in the right direction. December 2021 and May 2022 showed the lowest dip in this sentiment in the past four years at 31.7%. 

Of those who reported they do not believe Michigan is headed in the right direction, 52.8% said inflation and the cost of goods is to blame.

When asked if they expect the United States to be in a recession in one year, in November 2022, 50.5% responded yes. Now, only 20% reported they believe the country will be in a recession in a year. 

Despite this reported optimism, 47% of voters do not think Michigan is ready for the next generation of economic growth. 14.9% were undecided on this matter. 

The top three reasons stated why these voters say Michigan is unprepared are, (1) a lack of training and education (16.2%), (2) young people do not want to work (15.8%) and cost of living/ inflation (13%.) 

The poll also reports 53% of voters strongly support Michigan developing an advanced technological economy in the future. Voters aged 18-24 had the highest rate of opposition to this, at 20.4%, while voters 65 and older had the lowest, at 8.4%. 

When it comes to electric vehicles, Michigan voters are split on whether they think sales will increase over the next 10 years. 

A total of 70.1% of strong Democrats and 67.3% of leaning Democrats said EV sales will increase, while 52% of both strong and leaning Republicans said they will not increase. 54% of voters who identified themselves as independents said electric vehicle sales will not increase.