Economists predict more job growth coming in Michigan

ANN ARBOR (AP) — University of Michigan economists say the state’s economy will continue its post-recession recovery with continuing job growth for the next two years.

George Fulton and colleagues Gabriel Ehrlich, Donald Grimes and Michael McWilliams last Friday issued an annual November forecast of Michigan’s economy.

They say the state will add an average of 45,800 jobs per year in 2017 and 2018. That rate, however, is slowing from an average pace of roughly 70,000 jobs per year from 2014 to 2016.

In all, Michigan will have gained more than 605,700 jobs during the economic recovery from summer 2009 through the end of 2018. Overall, they say Michigan’s economic recovery will help the state’s unemployment rate hold steady around 4.6 percent through 2018.