Whitmer Gives Speech In DC About Manufacturing Jobs

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) took to the stage in Washington this week with bold declarations about revitalizing American manufacturing—a vision remarkably in line with that of President Donald Trump. “Let’s usher in, as President Trump says, a ‘Golden Age’ of American manufacturing,” she said, urging a renewed focus on domestic production, deregulation, and middle-class job growth.

But behind the aspirational rhetoric lies a sobering reality: under Whitmer’s own tenure, Michigan’s manufacturing sector has faltered.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Michigan has lost over 27,000 manufacturing jobs since Whitmer took office in January 2019—a 4.4% decline that places the state 39th in the country for job growth in the sector. That drop has occurred while 21 other states have seen increases in manufacturing employment. For a governor pledging to “keep going,” Michigan’s performance raises a pointed question: going where?

The contrast between message and track record is striking. Whitmer’s appeal to the crowd included proposals to “cut red tape” and reinvigorate American industry—policies often associated with conservative economic platforms. Yet Whitmer has taken actions many argue have produced the opposite effect. In March 2023, she repealed Michigan’s right-to-work law, which had protected workers from being compelled to pay union dues. Critics say the move has made the state less competitive and less attractive to manufacturers.

“This makes unions less accountable and hurts Michigan’s employment growth,” said James Hohman of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Republican State Rep. Matt Hall went further, warning that companies would flee to “more competitive states” for both plant operations and R&D.

Whitmer also blamed Trump’s recent 25% auto tariffs for disruptions in Michigan’s economy, which is heavily tied to the automotive industry. According to her, suppliers are delaying expansions, workers are being laid off, and vehicle prices have surged by as much as $15,000. Yet this line of criticism comes even as America’s largest labor unions praised the tariffs for encouraging the return of union manufacturing jobs—one of Whitmer’s stated goals.

Compounding the situation is Michigan’s slow recovery from the 2020 economic shutdowns. The governor’s strict COVID-era mandates, which shuttered most non-essential businesses, included widespread factory closures and lasting job losses in manufacturing. While industries like tourism have rebounded, manufacturing employment remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels.

Despite the economic headwinds, Whitmer's administration touts Michigan's broader industrial footprint, which still boasts $62 billion in exports in 2023. However, that figure alone cannot mask the structural job losses or justify declining workforce participation in core sectors.

All of this unfolded while Whitmer shared the national stage with Trump—her onetime political adversary. In a surprising moment of civility, Trump, who previously referred to her as “the woman in Michigan,” acknowledged that she has done “an excellent job.” That olive branch, however, doesn’t erase the policy gulf that still separates the two on issues like tariffs, union mandates, and state-level economic regulation.