MSU survey: Jobs 'No. 1' concern of Mich. voters

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When the presidential candidates visit Michigan, they’ll be likely to focus on the economy, which an MSU survey showed is on the minds of many residents.

Almost 41 percent of people are worried about unemployment, and 24 percent are concerned about the economy and job growth, according to a survey conducted by MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Only 0.5 percent said social and moral issues were most important.

“I think the number-one thing is the employment situation,” said Charles Ballard, an MSU economics professor and director of the IPPSR survey. “Michigan, for the last several years, has had a higher rate of unemployment than any other state, and that’s caused almost exclusively by the domestic auto industry.”

National unemployment rates hit a five-year high at 6.1 percent in August. Michigan has consistently held the nation’s worst unemployment rate, which was at 8.5 percent in July.

Michigan has seen a substantial growth in health care jobs, which is a high-growth job market, Ballard said.

For many MSU students, other issues take a higher priority.

“I also want to hear about what they’re going to do with the health care system,” said psychology freshman Kalleigh Landstra, who also emphasized the war on terror as an issue.

With much attention on alternative energy in Michigan, many students also said they are concerned about the environment.

“I like to hear them talk about the war and what they’re doing with the soldiers and what their plans are to make sure the environment is doing OK,” said Nichole Binegar, a general business administration sophomore.

During the primary season, Republican presidential nominee John McCain told Michiganians old jobs are not coming back. He later softened his approach to the state’s economic woes after Mitt Romney, a former opponent for the Republican presidential nomination, accused McCain of having a defeatist attitude.

If McCain continues to diverge from his original stance, he’ll be headed in the wrong direction, Ballard said.

“No one is seriously predicting auto industry employment will get back to the levels of a decade or two decades ago,” he said.

Obama has pleged to push green energy in his plans.

Dustin Petty, an agriculture and natural resource communications senior, said he wants to hear both candidates’ plans for Michigan’s economy.

“I haven’t heard anything about how it’s going to affect us,” Petty said. “They always talk about the little people, but there’s a lot of little people around here. How are you going to help us? I wish they would speak the truth a little bit more often.”

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