Income and poverty: Size up your state
The Great Lake State was the only one in the union to see a drop in median household income and a jump in its poverty rate in 2007, according to Census Bureau figures released Tuesday. Much of the decline stems from the turmoil in the auto sector, which has shed tens of thousands of jobs in recent years.
“Michigan is really hurting,” said Donald Grimes, senior research associate, Institute for Labor & Industrial Relations at the University of Michigan. “The Census report confirms the depth of employment loss. It’s really driven by what’s going on in the auto industry.”
Michigan’s poor showing
(These national statistics differ slightly from the national figures listed in the map to the right because they are derived from different surveys.)
Meanwhile, the number of people without health insurance fell to 45.7 million people, or 15.3%, down from 47 million, or 15.8%.
While Michigan residents were the only ones to lose ground, there was still a wide disparity among state fortunes. For instance, median income rose in 33 states, but stagnated in 16.
Among the more prosperous locales were Alaska, where the median income increased 5.2%, and Wyoming, which saw a 5.4% jump. Residents there can thank natural resources for the gains. read more
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