Michigan's household income likely is not as far below the national average as recent media reports suggest, according to a letter written by State Demographer Kenneth Darga and published in the Detroit News. The paper recently reported that Michigan's median household income fell below the national average for the first time since the data dudes started tracking the numbers. The paper also reported that Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio fell in national rankings.
One reason why is the region's underdeveloped human capital. After working in the factory for a century, the Great Lakes worker is dramatically under-educated. And that affects earning power and wages. It's the highly educated workers experiencing income gains in the knowledge economy. But, accoding to a 2003 US Census Bureau study, about 26 percent of the population in the midwest aged 25 and older have achieved a Bachelor's degree or higher.
Clearly, making investments that speed the development of new skills and talent for the Great Lakes worker is an immediate priority if the region intends to compete in 21st century economy.
