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December Jobless Rates Increase Seasonally in Nearly All Michigan Regional Labor Markets

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in December rose in 16 of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.  Total employment declined in all regions over the month while labor force levels fell in most areas.

“Michigan’s local labor market changes in December were almost exclusively seasonal and typical,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.  “Overall in 2017, the majority of the state’s major local labor markets displayed payroll job gains, while unemployment rates were little changed from 2016.  Jobless rates in both 2016 and 2017 were relatively low by historical standards.”

During December, unemployment rates increased seasonally throughout most of the state, with rate advances ranging from 0.2 to 2.2 percentage points and a moderate median gain of 0.5 of a percentage point.  The largest over-the-month rate increases were registered in the state’s three northernmost regions, which included the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+2.2), the Upper Peninsula (+1.5), and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.1).  The remaining region’s rate advances were limited to 0.8 of a percentage point or less.  A modest jobless rate reduction of 0.1 of a percentage point occurred in the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) over the month.  In December, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 3.0 to 9.0 percent.  The December Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.4 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 3.9 percent.

Annual Average Unemployment Rate Changes Mixed Over Year

Preliminary annual average data indicated that regional jobless rates were little changed in nearly all major areas of the state from 2016 to 2017 (see page 7).  Seven local regions posted minor unemployment rate hikes over the year of 0.4 percentage points or less, with five areas showing a modest uptick of only 0.1 of a percentage point.  The largest increases from 2016 to 2017 were recorded in the Monroe (+0.4) and Kalamazoo-Portage (+0.3) MSAs.  Over-the-year jobless rate reductions occurred in five areas, with the only significant decline displayed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA (-0.9).  Rates were unchanged in the remaining five regions since 2016.

Total Employment Down Over Month, Year

From November to December, total employment fell seasonally in all 17 regions.  Employment reductions ranged from 0.5 to 1.8 percent with a median decline of 1.3 percent.  The largest over-the-month decreases occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.8%), the Bay City MSA

(-1.8%) and the Upper Peninsula (-1.6%).  Since December 2016, total employment fell in 12 areas, rose in four regions and was essentially unchanged in the Jackson MSA.  Over-the-year employment reductions ranged from 0.2 to 2.6 percent with Bay City (-2.6%), Midland (-2.3%) and Flint (-1.6%) recording the most pronounced declines.  Employment gains since December 2016 were posted in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Ann Arbor and Muskegon MSAs.                                                                                                                                    

Labor Force Levels Down Over Month, Year

Between November and December, workforce levels fell seasonally in 14 regions with reductions ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 percent.  The largest labor force declines over the month took place in the Ann Arbor (-1.4%), Lansing-East Lansing (-1.3%) and Monroe (-1.3%) MSAs.  December labor force levels increased moderately in the Northwest (+0.7%) and Northeast (+0.6%) Lower Michigan regions, while the workforce level in the Upper Peninsula was essentially unchanged over the month.

Since December 2016, labor force levels declined in 11 areas and rose in six.  Workforce reductions ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 percent with a moderate median decrease of 0.5 percent, while increases ranged from 0.3 to 1.1 percent. 

December Payroll Jobs Down Seasonally

The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan declined by 19,000 in December to 4,439,000.  Seasonal job cuts were recorded in Professional and business services (-9,000), Construction (-8,000) and Government (-6,000).  The only notable job gain in December was posted in Trade, transportation and Utilities (+3,000).

Over the holiday hiring season from September to December 2017, jobs in Retail trade rose by 13,000 in Michigan, which was somewhat above the 2016 gain of 11,000 over the same period.  The majority of the Government job decline in December was centered in State government education with the beginning of the holiday break at area colleges and universities.

In December, payroll jobs declined in 12 metro areas and increased slightly in the Grand-Rapids-Wyoming MSA (+0.2%).  Job levels were unchanged over the month in the Bay City metro region.  Metro area job drops ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 percent with a minor median decrease of 0.4 percent.

Since December 2016, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 60,000 or 1.4 percent.  Twelve of Michigan’s 14 major metropolitan regions displayed job gains over this period with a significant median increase of 1.8 percent.  Area job advances on a percentage basis were led by the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.9%), Ann Arbor (+2.3%), Kalamazoo-Portage (+2.3%) and Jackson (+2.3%) MSAs.  Job levels declined over the year in the Bay City (-1.4%) and Midland (-0.8%) MSAs.

County Jobless Rates Up Over Month, Year

Eighty-one of Michigan’s 83 counties registered seasonal jobless rate hikes in December, with a median increase of 0.9 of a percentage point.  The unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was unchanged over the month while the rate in Washtenaw County edged down by 0.1 of a percentage point.

Since December 2016, unemployment rates rose moderately in 72 counties, with a median advance of 0.4 of a percentage point.  Rates declined in nine counties over the year and were unchanged in two.

Note:  Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted.  As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data.

A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted December workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for December.

Note to Editors:  Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”                                                                                                                  

 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

ANN ARBOR MSA

     

month

year

(Washtenaw County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

193,600

196,900

194,200

-1.4%

0.3%

Total Employment

188,300

190,800

188,400

-1.3%

0.1%

Unemployment

5,300

6,100

5,800

-4.9%

9.4%

Rate (percent)

2.7

3.1

3.0

   
           

Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

BATTLE CREEK MSA

     

month

year

(Calhoun County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

64,500

64,400

64,100

-0.5%

-0.6%

Total Employment

61,800

61,600

61,000

-1.0%

-1.3%

Unemployment

2,700

2,800

3,100

10.7%

14.8%

Rate (percent)

4.2

4.4

4.8

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

BAY CITY MSA

     

month

year

(Bay County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

52,000

51,300

50,900

-0.8%

-2.1%

Total Employment

49,400

49,000

48,100

-1.8%

-2.6%

Unemployment

2,600

2,300

2,700

17.4%

3.8%

Rate (percent)

4.9

4.5

5.3

   
           

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

   
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA

     

month

year

(Data in thousands)

         

(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer,

         

Livingston, St. Clair counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

2,068

2,095

2,091

-0.2%

1.1%

Total Employment

1,969

2,017

2,003

-0.7%

1.7%

Unemployment

99

78

87

11.5%

-12.1%

Rate (percent)

4.8

3.7

4.2

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

     
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

FLINT MSA

     

month

year

(Genesee County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

182,700

182,100

181,100

-0.5%

-0.9%

Total Employment

173,600

172,900

170,800

-1.2%

-1.6%

Unemployment

9,100

9,200

10,300

12.0%

13.2%

Rate (percent)

5.0

5.1

5.7

   
           

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

   
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA

     

month

year

(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

568,600

576,500

574,800

-0.3%

1.1%

Total Employment

551,500

557,800

555,100

-0.5%

0.7%

Unemployment

17,100

18,600

19,700

5.9%

15.2%

Rate (percent)

3.0

3.2

3.4

   
           

Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875

   
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

JACKSON MSA

     

month

year

(Jackson County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

73,700

74,600

73,900

-0.9%

0.3%

Total Employment

70,600

71,500

70,600

-1.3%

0.0%

Unemployment

3,100

3,100

3,200

3.2%

3.2%

Rate (percent)

4.2

4.1

4.4

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA

     

month

year

(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

169,000

170,300

169,500

-0.5%

0.3%

Total Employment

162,400

163,600

162,100

-0.9%

-0.2%

Unemployment

6,600

6,700

7,400

10.4%

12.1%

Rate (percent)

3.9

3.9

4.3

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA

     

month

year

(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

247,400

249,400

246,200

-1.3%

-0.5%

Total Employment

239,100

240,200

236,700

-1.5%

-1.0%

Unemployment

8,200

9,200

9,500

3.3%

15.9%

Rate (percent)

3.3

3.7

3.9

   
           

Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

MIDLAND MSA

     

month

year

(Midland County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

40,900

40,500

40,000

-1.2%

-2.2%

Total Employment

39,100

38,800

38,200

-1.5%

-2.3%

Unemployment

1,700

1,700

1,800

5.9%

5.9%

Rate (percent)

4.2

4.1

4.6

   
           

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

   
           
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

MONROE MSA

     

month

year

(Monroe County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

76,200

77,000

76,000

-1.3%

-0.3%

Total Employment

73,500

74,000

72,900

-1.5%

-0.8%

Unemployment

2,700

3,000

3,100

3.3%

14.8%

Rate (percent)

3.5

3.9

4.1

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

     
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

MUSKEGON MSA

     

month

year

(Muskegon County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

75,900

76,800

76,400

-0.5%

0.7%

Total Employment

72,300

73,000

72,400

-0.8%

0.1%

Unemployment

3,600

3,800

4,000

5.3%

11.1%

Rate (percent)

4.7

4.9

5.3

   
           

Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875

   
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA

     

month

year

(Berrien County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

72,900

73,200

72,700

-0.7%

-0.3%

Total Employment

69,600

69,900

69,000

-1.3%

-0.9%

Unemployment

3,400

3,300

3,700

12.1%

8.8%

Rate (percent)

4.6

4.5

5.0

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

SAGINAW MSA

     

month

year

(Saginaw County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

88,800

89,400

88,700

-0.8%

-0.1%

Total Employment

84,700

85,200

84,100

-1.3%

-0.7%

Unemployment

4,100

4,200

4,600

9.5%

12.2%

Rate (percent)

4.6

4.7

5.2

   
           

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

   
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

UPPER PENINSULA LMA

     

month

year

(15 counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

138,100

136,500

136,500

0.0%

-1.2%

Total Employment

128,900

129,000

127,000

-1.6%

-1.5%

Unemployment

9,100

7,500

9,500

26.7%

4.4%

Rate (percent)

6.6

5.5

7.0

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

     
           

 

 

       
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN

     

month

year

(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford,

         

Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, 

         

Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

81,900

81,300

81,800

0.6%

-0.1%

Total Employment

75,100

75,800

74,400

-1.8%

-0.9%

Unemployment

6,700

5,500

7,400

34.5%

10.4%

Rate (percent)

8.2

6.8

9.0

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

     
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN

     

month

year

(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie,

         

Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau,

         

Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

147,800

146,700

147,700

0.7%

-0.1%

Total Employment

139,600

139,700

138,900

-0.6%

-0.5%

Unemployment

8,200

7,000

8,800

25.7%

7.3%

Rate (percent)

5.5

4.8

5.9

   
           

Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875

   
           
 

Dec-16

Nov-17

Dec-17

% change

% change

MICHIGAN  (Data in thousands)

     

month

year

Civilian Labor Force

4,831

4,870

4,852

-0.4%

0.4%

Total Employment

4,615

4,677

4,636

-0.9%

0.5%

Unemployment

215

193

216

11.9%

0.5%

Rate (percent)

4.5

4.0

4.4

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

     

 

                  MICHIGAN'S MAJOR LABOR MARKET AREA'S

PRELIMINARY ANNUAL AVERAGE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES 2016 – 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANN ARBOR MSA

3.4

 

3.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BATTLE CREEK MSA

4.6

 

4.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAY CITY MSA

5.2

 

5.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA

5.4

 

4.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLINT MSA

5.4

 

5.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA

3.4

 

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JACKSON MSA

4.7

 

4.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA

3.9

 

4.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA

4.0

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIDLAND MSA

 

4.5

 

4.5

 

 

 

MONROE MSA

4.3

 

4.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MUSKEGON MSA

5.2

 

5.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA

4.8

 

4.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAGINAW MSA

5.1

 

5.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPPER PENINSULA LMA

6.4

 

6.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN

7.3

 

7.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN

5.3

 

5.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHIGAN

4.9

 

4.5

 

 

                     

 

                              MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

                                                                 DECEMBER 2017

 
             

1

Washtenaw County

3.0

 

43

Marquette County

5.7

2

Livingston County

3.1

 

44

Genesee County

5.7

3

Oakland County

3.2

 

45

Houghton County

5.8

4

Ottawa County

3.2

 

46

Sanilac County

5.8

5

Kent County

3.4

 

47

Missaukee County

5.9

6

Clinton County

3.5

 

48

Alpena County

5.9

7

St. Joseph County

3.6

 

49

Tuscola County

6.1

8

Ionia County

3.7

 

50

Van Buren County

6.1

9

Eaton County

3.8

 

51

Gogebic County

6.2

10

Allegan County

3.8

 

52

Charlevoix County

6.4

11

Kalamazoo County

3.9

 

53

Otsego County

6.5

12

Barry County

4.0

 

54

Mason County

6.5

13

Ingham County

4.0

 

55

Delta County

6.6

14

Macomb County

4.1

 

56

Gladwin County

6.7

15

Isabella County

4.1

 

57

Benzie County

7.0

16

Monroe County

4.1

 

58

Manistee County

7.0

17

Lenawee County

4.2

 

59

Clare County

7.1

18

Branch County

4.2

 

60

Iron County

7.2

19

Grand Traverse County

4.3

 

61

Baraga County

7.4

20

Hillsdale County

4.3

 

62

Kalkaska County

7.4

21

Jackson County

4.4

 

63

Antrim County

7.9

22

Cass County

4.6

 

64

Crawford County

7.9

23

Midland County

4.6

 

65

Oceana County

8.0

24

St. Clair County

4.8

 

66

Iosco County

8.1

25

Calhoun County

4.8

 

67

Emmet County

8.2

26

Montcalm County

4.9

 

68

Luce County

8.2

27

Huron County

5.0

 

69

Alcona County

8.5

28

Leelanau County

5.0

 

70

Lake County

8.5

29

Newaygo County

5.0

 

71

Chippewa County

8.6

30

Gratiot County

5.0

 

72

Oscoda County

8.8

31

Shiawassee County

5.0

 

73

Ogemaw County

9.0

32

Berrien County

5.0

 

74

Arenac County

9.1

33

Wayne County

5.1

 

75

Ontonagon County

9.7

34

Dickinson County

5.1

 

76

Presque Isle County

9.8

35

Menominee County

5.1

 

77

Roscommon County

9.9

36

Saginaw County

5.2

 

78

Keweenaw County

10.0

37

Bay County

5.3

 

79

Schoolcraft County

10.3

38

Muskegon County

5.3

 

80

Alger County

11.0

39

Mecosta County

5.5

 

81

Montmorency County

12.4

40

Wexford County

5.6

 

82

Cheboygan County

15.6

41

Lapeer County

5.7

 

83

Mackinac County

19.0

42

Osceola County

5.7