Yesterday the Census Bureau released their state population estimates for 7-1-13. In the interval since the 2010 count, Michigan gained 11,000 residents. Only 3 states grew more slowly. Rhode Island and West Virginia lost population and Maine’s population was essentially stable. Population growth would be a great stimulus for economic growth in Michigan but population growth typically depends upon a growth of jobs. In April 2000, non-farm employment in Michigan was estimated at 4.688 million. It sunk to a low of 3.826 million in March 2010 and has slowly increased to 4.094 million in November, 2013. That means the number of jobs in Michigan is still almost 15 percent below what it was in 2000. The auto industry is doing well but the investments vehicle firms are making imply that production will increase much more rapidly than employment. Agriculture is another booming sector of the state’s economy thanks to NAFTA but labor productivity in farming may be increasing even more rapidly than in manufacturing. Georgia passed Michigan in population last year. North Carolina will pass Michigan next year. Given its resources, it is too bad that Michigan is become a smaller and poorer state.