Michigan CEOs Turn More Cautious on Economy, But Continue Investing and Hiring
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Skip to contentAbout UsMedia KitWriting & Visibility ServicesExecutive Writing ServicesExecutive Visibility ServicesStartup Visibility & Market Awareness ProgramNewsletterContact UsBlogView Larger ImageMichigan CEOs Turn More Cautious on Economy, But Continue Investing and HiringDETROIT — Michigan’s largest employers are growing more cautious about the economy, but they’re not yet hitting the brakes on hiring, capital investments or their long-term commitment to the state. A new second-quarter survey from Business Leaders For Michigan found CEO optimism declined sharply compared with the previous quarter as executives weighed continuing uncertainty surrounding global markets, trade policies and geopolitical tensions. Yet despite those concerns, most business leaders say they still expect their own companies to remain stable over the next six months. The survey offers a snapshot of the mindset among executives leading many of Michigan’s largest employers—and suggests businesses are preparing for slower economic growth rather than an outright downturn. Nearly 60 percent of surveyed CEOs now expect Michigan’s economy to weaken during the next six months, up from 35 percent in the first quarter. Views of the national economy followed a similar pattern. Fifty-seven percent expect U. S. economic conditions to deteriorate, compared with 32 percent three months earlier. Even so, executives remain considerably less pessimistic than they were a year ago, when roughly eight in ten CEOs expected both the Michigan and U. S. economies to decline. Michigan CEO Confidence by the NumbersMeasureQ2 2026Q1 2026Q2 2025Expect Michigan economy to decline60%35%87%Expect U. S. economy to decline57%32%81%CEOs maintaining or increasing capital spendingMajorityMajorityHigher than last yearCEOs maintaining Michigan employmentMore than 50%SimilarStronger than last yearCEOs maintaining Michigan real estate footprintAbout 80%About 80%StableCompanies Staying the CourseFounder of Michigan News Network, and serves as CEO, as well as Editor & Publisher of MITECHNEWS. COM. Brennan has worked since 1980 as a technology writer at newspapers in New York, NY, San Jose, CA. , Seattle, WA. , Memphis, TN. , Detroit, MI. , and London, England. He co-founded and served as managing editor of Pacific Rim News Service (SEATTLE), which developed a network of more than 100 freelance journalists in 17 Asia-Pacific countries.