Flint, Saginaw make Forbes' Bottom Five

by: Petrolcide

Tue May 05, 2009 at 13:10:27 PM EDT

http://realestate.yahoo.com/pr...

I was right! What a shocker!

In fact...

Eleven of the bottom 16 regions on our list are in two states, Ohio and Michigan. In fact, the Wolverine State alone accounts for bottom four cities: Jackson, Michigan, Detroit, Saginaw and Flint.

Our next door neighbor...

Flint, located just 60 miles northwest of Detroit, is the birthplace of General Motors and has become the symbol of the collapsing auto industry. According to the Flint Journal, GM is the county's largest employer, with more than 7,000 workers. Between 2003 and 2008, the region lost 53.5% of its jobs in the manufacturing sector. It gets worse. Recent reports say that, by next year, GM will close 13 plants and shed 21,000 factory jobs. It seems residents of Flint face unemployment realities that will only get worse.

And our home town...

This part of Northern Michigan, in the Great Lakes Bay region, is considered a favorite destination for outdoor recreation activities, like hiking, and there are 30 ski resorts within 100 miles. Despite that, jobs in Saginaw's leisure and hospitality sector declined 7% between 2007 and 2008. More critical for this area, however, is the fate of the auto industry. Since 2003, the region has shed 30% of its jobs in the manufacturing sector. According to an article in the Saginaw News, manufacturing jobs now employs 9,600 workers. Just one year ago, they employed 10,900.

I'm not sure why they called it "Northern" Michigan or cite a rag such as the Saginaw News, but the points are valid.

Man, are we screwed. Let the exodus continue!