The recently released Supply Management Research survey indicates the West Michigan is strong. The October numbers touched on historically low unemployment and continued momentum in a number of West Michigan industries.
“Our auto parts suppliers are still going great guns.”
Brian G. Long is director of Supply Management Research at the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. He says economists are surprised by auto sales figures provided by industry leaders.
“None of them have even talked about anything that resembles a layoff. None of them talk about their business slackening off to any great degree going into 2019 this is very positive.”
Long explains, "After all the talk about auto sales softening, the October sales report from Automotive News posted a minor gain of 0.4 percent."
That keeps the local parts supply chain busy like most area businesses.
Long points out year-over-year unemployment rates continue to drop in Kent County where the current rate is at 2.6 percent. In Ottawa County it’s even lower by just a tick at 2.5 percent. Travel south to Kalamazoo County and the rate is a low 3.0 percent.
“It’s impossible to find short-term truckers on short notice. We also don’t have enough truck drivers and, of course, trucking equipment by itself has turned up to be in short supply.”
And with workers in short supply Long says not to expect too much more economic expansion.
Patrick Center, WGVU News.