The economy here in Michigan is not the greatest. Many of our jobs are/were related to manufacturing, esp. in the auto industry. We are/were a big union state. I'm guessing that outside of the larger urban areas, the economy has been sluggish for many years.
There are many are many reasons for fewer jobs here in Michigan. I'm sure the same is true in many parts of the country. NAFTA, outsourcing, automation, to name a few.
Michigan, Alaska and Indiana share honors for worst unemployment in the US. Michigan also has the distinction of having negative job growth.

Today on Off the Record, a local PBS program in metro Detroit, Ms. Granholm laid out her plan to create jobs.
One idea is to raise the minimum wage $2.00 per hour. Well, gee, that sounds great if you have that minimum hour job. But wait, the guy who had 10 minimum wage employees can now only afford seven!!! OOOOOOPS. Three more unemployeds.
I fail to see how that will create jobs in MI

Another brainstorm : she wants to, maybe, take all the highway repair/construction jobs for the next ten years, and do them in three. And that is supposed to put Michigan's non-working folks to work?
Seems to me that will help out-of-state construction workers. But, I somehow doubt many of Michigan's unemployed will benefit.

I've heard for every average one job in Michigan there are about ten applicants. I don't know if this is the norm. By average job, I mean working at someplace like Home Depot or JC Penney.

She is truly in over her head, She seems unalbe to make decisions, especially if it may impact her chances for re-election next year.
She did manage to raise the cigarette taxes once or twice.
She, the state legislators and the state workers all got nice raises.
She is in the third year of her first term and has little positive to show for it. She can no longer blame former Governor Engler for what ails Michigan's economy.

I fear Michigan is in big trouble.