Why They Leave

by
Lauren Silverman
Monday, November 9, 2009

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Kristen Bialik is like many other young college students in Michigan. She loves the Midwest, but she’s not planning on staying here after she graduates from the University of Michigan.

“I mean I’ve thought about it but I never really imagined that there would be any opportunities coming out of graduation so I kind of always assumed I would have to go somewhere else for the first few years.”

University of Michigan student Kristen Bialik doesn't plan to stay in Michigan. (Photo by Rodrigo Gaya)

University of Michigan student Kristen Bialik doesn't plan to stay in Michigan. (Photo by Rodrigo Gaya)

But when I asked Kristen whether she had even looked for jobs in Michigan, she said no. “It’s just sort of my assumption,” said Bialik. So she’s packing her bags when she graduates and will head to Chicago without even checking for jobs here.

That’s not unusual for recent college graduates in Michigan.

Mike Finney is CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. It’s is a local resource for businesses. He’s not surprised students like Bialik are leaving Michigan. Finney said, “The kind of employment opportunities that are attractive to that young talent simply don’t exist in Michigan.”

Or at least that’s what everyone seems to think.

Britany Affolter-Caine is the manager of a program that tries to keep Michigan’s college grads in-state by connecting them with local businesses. It’s called Intern in Michigan. She argues there really are job opportunities for recent graduates right here in Michigan.

“There was a survey done recently that looked at talent graduating from Michigan universities and at least half of them weren’t even looking in Michigan for jobs because they assumed that there were none. The employers did a similar survey and you have just the opposite perception: they assume that there’s no talent in the state. They look out of state. So there are jobs, there is talent, they’re not connecting.”

The problem doesn’t have to do with jobs, but with perception. People see Michigan as a dead zone. Friends, mentors and even parents tell their kids to get out before it’s too late.

Affolter-Caine says the problem doesn’t have to do with jobs, but with perception. People see Michigan as a dead zone. Friends, mentors and even parents tell their kids to get out before it’s too late.

“No parent wants their child to leave the state, but here in Michigan many, many parents are pushing their children out the door, out of the state, because they want them to be successful. They’ve heard the news. They think Michigan is a wasteland, which is patently false. But that’s the perception that they have, and it’s now driving reality.”

Try and convince recent graduates that there are good jobs in Michigan and they’ll look at you like you’re telling them to believe in Santa. It may be out of style to believe, but they want to — you just have to give them a reason.

Affolter-Caine says it’s career counselors at colleges and universities that can persuade students to stay here in Michigan. They’re the ones talking to students when it comes time to make the big decision.

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  • detroittransplant
    In my opinion, Michigan, or more specifically Detroit, does lack jobs for recent graduates. I have friends with Masters degrees and even PhDs who have been job-searching in the area for many months. That said, I think Detroit offers something incredibly special to those who are willing to endure this job search. Detroit is a place where people can make a real difference. Sure, you can move to Chicago and have an easier go at it, but you'll just be one in a sea of a people in the city. In Detroit, whatever your passion, there is a huge opportunity for you to have a real impact, and to be known for that which inevitably breeds other opportunities. Detroit isn't for everyone - it requires a certain grit and determination - but those who choose this journey will love every minute of it!
  • michael
    Keep believing that fantasy maybe someday it will come true... at least that is what they want you to believe. Maybe Santa will bring prosperity to Detroit also?
  • ms
    Generation Y Can You Hear the Call
    The questions are: should you stay in Michigan and help them rebuild or should you leave and look for a brighter future elsewhere?
    In my opinion, sometimes you have to loose sight of the shore line that you are currently on in order to find a new beginning . So, my answer is yes, you should leave to see what is out there. To get a feel for what others are doing and how other communities live. Then you are able to see, if you can help the residents of Michigan or to walk away from them. It has been my personal experience to explore and to see what the world has to offer me. In my years, I have lived in a five major cities in pursued of my dreams and I have done well to say the least. So I am advocate for departure because sometimes that when you find your true
  • Dominique

    Michigan and Generation Y

    “Should generation Y leave for better pastures, whenever they can find good job?” Personally, I think there are more opportunities for generation Y outside of Michigan. I think Michigan is a great place to earn a degree. Michigan is known for the great auto industries which have all unfortunately failed. In Michigan we have numerous amounts of people who are well educated. But these same people are unemployed and losing their house in great amount every day. Most of these people will be able to gain what they are losing somewhere else.
  • Becky
    Should generation Y leave for better pastures, wherever they can find jobs? Currently this is the best time to leave Michigan because the economy and job outlook is very low. People should begin to take advantage of other states and cities growing economy. With Michigan’s high unemployment many students are coming out of college with no job in sight and now have the responsibilities of taking care of themselves they need to seek out jobs in other places. In personal experience while living in Atlanta, GA, I met many of people who have moved there and built a decent living for themselves and have well paying job. With unemployment low in big cities like Atlanta and others there are many opportunities to look forward to.
  • PK
    The opportunities for liberal arts grads in Michigan are almost slim to none. Who wants to make $11 to start and top out at $15 with rent, car payments and student loans? And in transitional industries where you move to where the work is, who wants to spend their youthful years toiling in Lansing, Saginaw, Kalamazoo, and assorted tweener cities?

    Some people who grew up in Michigan just want opportunities in life that aren't available in Michigan: Living in a major, cosmopolitan metropolitan area (metro Detroit doesn't count), where endless entertainment options come to them, making career-advancing connections, meeting peers and people whose priorities don't start and end with marriage and kids, babies mommas, etc.

    Our youthful years are non-refundable. When we get older and decide to "settle down," we can always come back. Michigan is a great place and a wonderful place to raise family and instill good values, but some of us can't (and won't) wait for things to come together economically. And some people just don't want to experience the same stuff they've known their whole lives.
  • Michael
    I could not agree more. I grew up in Michigan and recently moved to San Francisco and it is amazing how much better my life is, how many more exciting things are at my finger tips, how much more diversity there is, the restaurants, food cultures... and I wonder why I waited until the age of 29 to start to experience it.

    I think for young professionals who are single and want to live and experience life Michigan has very little to offer. If you want to get married, buy a house and work Monday-Friday so you can work on the lawn over the weekends then this is the state for you. Personally I could care less about any of that. I want a fast paced and dynamic life full of exciting challenges and exciting dynamic people.
  • Kiran
    I'm from Ann Arbor and I left to pursue my career in the entertainment industry in a more metropolitan area (Los Angeles) with more varied clientele. At the time, there was little opportunity for me to further my career as an editor (film) not just in terms of the technical aspect but the aesthetics and networking as well. I cut commercials, tv shows and dvd special features, and the going industry rate here is between $2,500-$3,500 per week for reality and upwards of $10,000 per week for features. Its all relative based on the cost/standard of living I realize but the opportunities in MI for what I do, just don't stack up. I also own a website development company, which I started with a partner while in high school. Again, a situation where I was able to further the development of my own business with larger and higher paying clients.
  • Chas
    I believe most are missing the point. Let's look at what Michigan does have, which is by far the most talented and skillful manufacturing work force ever, and I do mean ever, assembled in one state. What we also have is a Governor and a legislature hell bent on raising taxes on any business that would employ these skilled people. Hence, no business in their right mind would locate here to only fight with unions and pay more in taxes when better opportunities exist elsewhere. Much easier for me to open a manufacturing plant in Georgia or Tennessee where taxes are low and union presence limited, and then come to Michigan to recruit. I'd be way further ahead even if I paid all of their moving expenses and bought the homes here they can't sell. People, it all starts with manufacturing. I hear Granholm wants us to be a "service economy". Well, who the hell are we to service? I'm in Kalamazoo and our three largest employers are two hospitals and Western Michigan University. But if we, as a community, don't have jobs, who can afford to send their kids to college? Who can afford health care premiums to get health care? Even if the health care we seek is emergent in nature, if we aren't working or don't have insurance, we still can't pay the bill no matter how often we are sued by the hospitals and doctors. This flimsy house of cards we call our economy is ready to take a drubbing. And Lansing's answer? Raise taxes! We don't need special "zones" and tax credits and other such nonsense to put us back on track. Just lower the taxes and make Michigan a Right To Work State. It's time to make widgets again. And any widget will do.
  • Guest
    This is not a "perception vs reality" problem - this is reality.

    My soon-to-be wife and I both recently completed advanced degrees at Cornell University. When she found an Americorps position in Ann Arbor that spoke directly to her research, we decided to move back to Michigan. For the better part of two months I focused all my effort to find a better job in the area. Like her, the only thing that turned up was an Americorps position - only mine is 40 miles away in Detroit. If two people who completed Masters theses can't find jobs that pay better than $10/hr, then I seriously doubt that people with Bachelors or Associates degrees are finding respectable jobs here, either.

    I seriously want to believe that Michigan will make a full recovery and attract young, talented people. But at this rate, I am going to leave the state as soon as I possibly can.
  • Michael
    Carl: Having lived in Grand Haven for a couple years I can say Grand Haven and Holland is NOT the future of Michigan, it is a resort area and in the winter there is no one downtown! I do agree that Grand Rapids is by far the nicest city in Michigan but nowhere near as great as Chicago.

    The lakes here might be nice but there are constant problems with e-coli levels and other pollution levels and are unsafe for swimming from time to time. Way to take care of the one thing that you market the most, Natural Resources. I am always amazed at how this state screws itself over.
  • Carl
    Chicago is a great city. Hopefully the idea of a high speed rail from GR to SE Michigan got scrapped. Everyone would much rather connect GR to Chicago (with a stop in Grand Haven, of course). I can think of a million reasons to go to Chicago and very few reasons to go to SE Michigan.
  • detroittransplant
    The idea is to create linkages between the city, which will allow opportunities for greater economic growth. It's not just to make it easy for those living in Chicago to travel for vacation.

    Plus, Detroit has amazing architecture, an astounding arts scene, and great boutique shopping. Perhaps you could broaden your perspective by planning a vacation in Detroit. I know www.modeldmedia.com offers suggestions (just search for "staycation").
  • Carl
    Michigan is in transition. We had a lot of people who thought they could have a middle class lifestyle with only a high school education. Welcome to reality. We need some time for the uneducated to get retrained or to move away and build a population that values learning and investment.

    Also do not forget West Michigan, which is much closer to the Chicago sphere of influence. Come look at Grand Rapids and Grand Haven to see the future of Michigan. In the mean time, we live in one of the most beautiful states around with Lake Michigan, and we have an awesome summer, fall and winter here. Christmas lights on palm trees? That's just wrong.
  • spacedcowgirl
    I could not agree more, especially on the Christmas lights on palm trees part. Carl for Governor! ;)
  • Michael
    There is little opportunity for young talented people in this state, it is not a perception that is driving the reality it is a reality that exists and people are reacting to it. College debt is very large and very real for most people and college was, or should have been, an investment in their future. If there is not a Return On Investment locally why would anyone choose to stay around? People go to college to gain knowledge and better themselves, staying in Michigan would be doing the exact opposite. I graduated in 2004 and had an MBA and a BS in Mechanical Engineering and there was little to nothing in this state and what jobs there were did not pay a competitive rate compared to other parts of the country. I would've been crazy to stay in Michigan and I am sure I am not the only one who ran into this situation.

    I would challenge Mark Finney of Ann Arbor Spark to find me a job that pays anything close to what I am making in California. The effort would be pointless anyways because I enjoy smooth roads, piers who are single young professionals, being outdoors in shorts all year round in shorts and a diverse strong local economy to much to leave.
  • detroittransplant
    Please don't forget that the cost of living in California is entirely different than Detroit. It is foolish to look at just your salary, when your rent and other costs will be so dramatically different.

    As someone who chose to move to the area, I can tell you that some jobs are there and they do pay competitively; you just have to work to find them.

    I'm glad you've found happiness in California, but please don't tear down the state that gave you the education you needed to get there in order to make yourself feel better.
  • michael
    detroittransplant: The state never "gave" me an education. I paid for my schooling and earned my degree and my job regardless of where I lived. The state of Michigan didn't give me a degree because I grew up in Michigan, lets make that clear. Second: California does cost more to live out there but I also make more, if I got the same midwestern salary out there that would not be a good move. Areas that have higher living costs also pay more, so it is not foolish to say what I said, it is true. That's why you should look at apartment costs and several online cost of living calculators before you move.

    I am not tearing down the area but rather giving a clear and realistic view of the area. The fact is that Michigan has the worst job market in all 50 states, if someone is fresh out of college and loaded with debt I am making the point that their efforts will be better spent finding work outside of the state. I honestly believe others are trying to represent the poor job market in Michigan and say "things are not that bad" when in fact they are, statistics continually show that.

    I am lucky that during this market I still have work anywhere in this country. You are also very lucky you have found a job and a place to live you are happy with. This market seems to follow no rhyme or reason to it's fluctuations.
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