LEO, MDOT: Michigan jobs numbers highlight need for road funding

LANSING, Mich - While the latest Michigan unemployment numbers for July remained unchanged, without a comprehensive roads package, state leaders warn employment numbers will be negatively impacted. Today, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) are highlighting the need to pass the comprehensive funding to make sure Michiganders keep their good-paying jobs and businesses don’t face an economic burden in the absence of funding while keeping Michigan’s economy moving forward.

MDOT estimates that without a long-term road funding solution, nearly 10,000 good-paying Michigan jobs employing skilled laborers, equipment operators and small business owners could go away. In addition, MDOT also estimates that without a comprehensive roads package, their highway capital program will support approximately 2,800 fewer construction jobs in 2026 than in 2025.

“We currently have less than 48 days until Michigan’s constitutional budget deadline,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “Delayed or reduced funding would impact key programs and services, forcing layoffs and slowing projects that keep people employed. The ripple effects would be felt across industries and communities, leading to job losses, reduced economic activity, and lasting setbacks for Michigan workers and families.

For every $1 million spent on roads, nearly 10 good-paying jobs are supported. State investments in road construction have led to significant growth in the construction industry and today’s jobs numbers show that Michigan’s construction sector saw an increase of over 10,000 jobs since 2024. These jobs, which often do not require a college degree, offer the average Michigan road construction worker a nearly $70,000 annual salary, with retirement and healthcare benefits.

“The impacts of our road funding crisis in Michigan will be felt tenfold,” said MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich. “The lack of funding won’t just delay necessary road and bridge projects but will also reduce high paying construction jobs by thousands in our state.”

In February, Gov. Whitmer introduced the “Mi Road Ahead” plan — a comprehensive, long-term strategy to repair Michigan’s roads for generations. This $3 billion plan allocates funding to help local communities repair roads, enhance transit options, improve road safety and lower vehicle repair costs for drivers. This fiscally responsible and balanced plan combines targeted cuts with new revenue sources to ensure the roads are fixed the right way, once and for all.

Gov. Whitmer’s $3 billion road funding plan dedicates $1 billion specifically to local road improvements and $250 million to enhancing local bus services and developing new transit projects statewide.

Since Gov. Whitmer took office through the end of this year’s construction season, Michigan will have repaired over 23,000 lane miles of road and 1,600 bridges, supporting over 188,000 good-paying jobs. Over the last six years, the Governor and the Legislature have worked together to deliver six balanced, bipartisan budgets investing more than $24 billion to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges, more than the previous eight years combined. 

Last week in a letter to the directors of the MDOT and LEO, Gov. Whitmer called for a full assessment and public release of data on the impact of the looming road funding cliff and federal economic pressures, such as tariffs, on Michigan’s construction workforce and ongoing infrastructure projects. Gov. Whitmer warned that without a bipartisan roads deal, thousands of good-paying jobs could be lost, driving conditions would worsen and repair costs could escalate. The departments will present their assessment before Aug. 21.