Chart 4 presents average non-farm
payroll employment growth from 1970-2000. Right-to-work states averaged almost 1
percent faster annual growth. Although this difference dissipated temporarily
during the 1980s, it widened significantly during the 1990s (see
Table II, Appendix I).
At 1.5 percent, Michigan's employment growth averaged only half that of RTW
states, placing it 41st in employment growth over this period (surpassed by
every RTW state). Michigan's relative ranking barely improved during the 1990s,
placing it in 35th place, again trailing all 21 RTW states.