Sunday, July 30, 2023

Bill Crawford: State Economic "Momentum" Depends on Perspective

 Perspective…politicians work hard to sell their perspectives to voters. Sometimes, they find a narrow focus helps.

For example, Gov. Tate Reeves has chosen lately to use a narrow focus to tout Mississippi’s economic progress.

“Mississippians are learning more and earning more,” he said in touting the state’s 17% per capita personal income gain since 2018. “It seems like every week there is more good news coming out about Mississippi. This is just one more example of the incredible momentum our state has.”

A broader focus shows every state experiencing similar “incredible momentum.” All achieved double digit personal income growth during that period. The national average increase was 16% as COVID payments, tight labor markets, and inflation bumped up income across the nation.

Significantly, Mississippi held on to the bottom behind West Virginia with the nation’s lowest average personal income.

“We made it a priority to increase wages,” the Governor touted.



Mississippi did make gains. Average wages were up 16.5% from 2019 to 2022. But, as with personal income, every state enjoyed double digit wage growth. The national average increase was 18.1% as tight labor markets and inflation bumped up wages across the nation. 

Again, Mississippi held the bottom with the lowest average annual wages behind West Virginia.  

Gov. Reeves also touted the state’s “strong economic growth.” 

The state economy has grown. But, last week Mississippi was not one of the states that Axios.com highlighted with strong gains in manufacturing from January 2019 to May 2023. Manpower reports published by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security show manufacturing jobs increased from 146,200 in January 2019 to 147,900 in May 2023, a 1.1% increase over that three and a quarter year span.

Also, as I wrote recently, the wealth boom sweeping over the South skipped over Mississippi.

Finally, the Governor has touted the state’s record low unemployment rate. “This is a tremendous victory for every business, every community, and every Mississippian across our state,” he said.

Yes, the unemployment rate is down to 3.3%. But, a look at MDES labor force reports show that was not because more people got jobs. In fact around 5,000 fewer people were employed than in 2019. The unemployment rate change resulted from over 20,000 individuals disappearing from the labor force and the unemployment rolls – not exactly a win.   

Total employment was down around 5,000 over that same period. And the state’s labor participation rate of 54.5% in June remained the nation’s lowest, behind West Virginia.

The Governor’s facts have been correct, but his narrow focus leaves out a lot.

“Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side” – Proverbs 18:17 (TLB).

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anyone who is willing to show up on time and work hard can find an incredibly good job in Mississippi right now. Anyone. Even crappy workers can find a job.

Anonymous said...

Still last in the nation, of course. Tate’s so proud!

So, Tate's Focus is Narrow. Crawford's Is Non-Existent said...

Speaking of 'narrow focus'.

My team won the game by one point but that's not good enough for Crawford.

We beat the national average, but that's not good enough in Crawford's estimation.

We covet retirees, but when we gain them, they drag down the labor force participation rate and Crawford bitches about that figure.

We didn't score as high as many others in some off-the-wall ranking scale so we should be ashamed, according to Crawford.

Everybody who wants a job has one or can have one tomorrow, but that's not good enough (not sure why).

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the weekly public display of Bill Crawford's personal animus for Tate Reeves.

If Brandon Presley or any other Democrat were currently Governor running for re-election Crawford would use these same statistics to tout Mississippi's economic successes. Instead Crawford, as does Presley, asks you to believe that up is down and good is bad

Bill Crawford is a loathsome individual.




(But kudos to Kingfish for running his column every week to remind readers how low he and his pitiful ilk will go to always run Mississippi down.)

Anonymous said...

9:30 You have a gift for hyperbole coupled with brevity. You should work as a speech writer for an incumbent. Call Tater.

Anonymous said...

Now do Biden and his nonsensical "jobs' creation" when everyone except his team know that these were jobs that were there before the shut down and are just now being filled. How about the record breaking inflation but the incredible "Bidenomics". And how many trillions did he reduce the deficit?

Anonymous said...

CPI is up 21% since 2018, so our income growth is smoke and mirrors. We have lost ground. And lost population.

Anonymous said...

“Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist”.

There is a way to point these facts out without all the negativity. Might be time to put the pen down, Bill, and remember your younger more hopeful days.

Anonymous said...

The MS Republicans in charge have done an excellent job for the people that want to work and live in a sustainable area. The rest of the people who are able to work but live in a job, food, education, medical, etc. desert need to move elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

@10:48 I haven’t looked for a job in 30 years. I turn down job offers every week because my competitors can’t find help. It’s hard to find people that will work, even if you offer good pay, 401k, full health insurance, dental, vision, life, disability, and vacation and sick leave.

Bill Crawford = Fraud Columnist said...

"Post census analysis by the Census Bureau also revealed that Mississippi was under counted by -4.11% which means Mississippi actually gained population (~ +100,000) in the decade ending 2020. Even the f'ing Barksdalers reported on this but being honest about this error doesn't fit Crawford's narrative".

Anonymous said...

If we are continually in last place for everything good and in first place for everything bad how can any politician brag about themselves or their party. When we go toward the middle place of anything good or bad they could brag. Don't look like we should hear any bragging at all but they will still try to fool the idiots.

Anonymous said...

They only undercounted the people they didn’t want to count. Illegals and other minorities. Turnip wanted it that way and the right helped. The only thing helping Mississippi and the rest of the country is Bidenomics. Republicans in congress including those in the states delegation realize this as many of you, so the answer to his successful management of the economy and foreign policy is impeachment . They can’t figure out any other way to tarnish him and the successful turnaround he has engineered.

Anonymous said...

MS will never quit draggin asses through the mud from one disappointment to the next until the Governor and Legislature enable School Choice and Vouchers, directing money to parents, not school systems, as many other red states have done.

Anonymous said...

Bill
Tell us what a Brandon Presley would look like.

Anonymous said...

I’ll have what 3:10 is drinking.

Anonymous said...

@3:10 - Are you typically that stoned mid-afternoon?


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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