Lansing Sun

The state’s logging industry has grown during Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D-MI) tenure as governor, according to the state.  

Other trades that were highlighted during Whitmer’s Oct. 12 government news release included the trade, transport, utility and mining industries.

“Michigan’s distinct geographic advantages position our state as a center for trade and a hub of natural resources ensuring that we have the momentum to keep growing our economy,” Whitmer said. “In the last few years, we have grown our trade, transportation and utility workforce and our mining and logging industries. (We) have strong momentum as our manufacturing workforce grows.”

Whitmer added that there “is still plenty of work” to do to make sure that the construction or manufacturing have a skilled workforce to choose from, along with providing well paying jobs.

“Michigan is rich with critical minerals to support the transition away from fossil fuels,” said Matt Johnson, manager of External Relations for Eagle Mine. “Currently, Michigan is the only state in the country mining and processing nickel, which is required to manufacture electric vehicle batteries. New technologies being researched by Michigan’s universities will help make the mining industrial more sustainable and keep these essential materials in the United States; sustaining jobs and creating new jobs in Michigan’s rural communities.”

The state had 794,300 jobs in the highlighted industries when Whitmer took office and added 8,400 jobs as of August 2022.

“Michigan has abundant and diverse forests across the state which provide the renewable raw material for our diverse forest products industries,” said Bill O’Brion, general manager at Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands. “These industries produce a wide array of products ranging from bioenergy to paper, lumber, flooring and furniture. The skilled workers in our manufacturing, logging and transportation sectors are the backbone of our industry. The good news is we continue to grow more wood than we use in the state, so there is ample opportunity to continue to expand the forest products economy and the jobs it creates.”