March 15, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in January rose in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and workforce levels fell seasonally in the majority of areas.
“Michigan’s regional labor force and job trends were very typical for January, as payroll jobs fell in many seasonal industry sectors with the onset of the winter months,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Since January 2017, the majority of local labor markets recorded moderate jobless rate declines, while payroll jobs increased in most of the state’s metro areas.”
During January, jobless rate increases throughout the state’s various major labor markets ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 percentage points with a median advance of 0.9 of a percentage point. The most pronounced January rate jumps were recorded in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+1.4), the Saginaw Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (+1.3), and the Bay City MSA (+1.3). In January, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 3.6 to 10.6 percent. The January Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.3 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 4.5 percent.
Unemployment Rates Down Over Year
Since January 2017, jobless rates fell in eleven regions, increased slightly in the Lansing-East Lansing (+0.4), Monroe (+0.4), and Saginaw (+0.2) MSAs, and were unchanged in the Bay City, Flint and Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSAs. Unemployment rate reductions ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 of a percentage point with a minor median decline of 0.3 of a percentage point. The largest over-the-year reductions occurred in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA (-0.8), the Upper Peninsula (-0.6), and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-0.4).
Total Employment Down Over Month, Up Over Year
From December to January, total employment fell seasonally in all 17 regions. Seasonal employment drops ranged from 0.8 to 2.2 percent with a median reduction of 1.4 percent.
Since January 2017, total employment advanced in ten areas, declined in five regions and was essentially unchanged in the Niles-Benton Harbor and Flint MSAs. Increases ranged from 0.1 to 1.3 percent with the largest gains posted in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.3%), the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA (+1.0%), the Muskegon MSA (+0.7%) and the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+0.7%). The largest over-the-year employment reductions were registered in the Battle Creek MSA (-1.5%), the Midland MSA (-1.1%) and the Saginaw metro area (-0.9%).
Note: Labor force, employment, and unemployment data for all 12 months of 2017 have been recently revised. Payroll job data for all industries was revised for 2016 and 2017, and for certain industries back to 1990. Estimates for January 2018 are not comparable to previously released data. For newly revised estimates, go to www.michigan.gov/lmi or call 313-456-3090.
Labor Force Levels Down Over Month, Mixed Over Year
Between December and January, workforce levels fell seasonally in 14 regions with reductions ranging from 0.3 to 1.4 percent, with a moderate median decline of 0.5 percent. The biggest January decreases occurred in the Ann Arbor (-1.4%), the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (-1.4%) and the Niles-Benton Harbor (-1.0%) MSAs. Three regions, the Bay City and Lansing-East Lansing MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region, reported minor workforce growth in January.
Since January 2017, labor force levels rose in seven regions, declined in seven areas and were unchanged in the Flint, Jackson and Kalamazoo-Portage MSAs. The median labor force increase over the year was 0.5 percent, while the median decline was 0.6 percent.
Seasonal Drop in January Payroll Jobs
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan declined by 87,000 or 2.0 percent in January to 4,323,000. Typical seasonal job cuts were registered in Professional and business services (-26,000), Government (-16,000), Leisure and hospitality services (-10,000), Construction (-9,000), Education and health services (-9,000) and Professional and business services (-8,000).
Within Trade, transportation and utilities, Retail trade jobs fell by 19,000 in January as merchants cut seasonal jobs with the end of the holiday shopping period. Jobs fell in January in both Local and State government education as local schools and universities were not fully staffed after the holiday break.
In January, payroll jobs declined in all 14 metro areas. Regional job cuts ranged from 1.7 to 3.1 percent with a median decrease of 2.4 percent.
Since January 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 41,000 or 1.0 percent. Nine of Michigan’s 14 major metropolitan regions posted overall job gains over the year ranging from 0.5 to 1.4 percent, with the largest increases shown in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+1.4%), Muskegon (+1.3%) and Ann Arbor (+1.1%) MSAs. Over-the-year job reductions were reported in the Midland (-1.4%), Battle Creek (-1.2%), Bay City (-0.8%) and Saginaw (-0.6%) MSAs. Jobs were little changed since January 2017 in the Niles-Benton Harbor MSA.
County Jobless Rates Up Over Month, Down Over Year
Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties posted seasonal jobless rate hikes in January, with a median increase of a full percentage point. Five counties, all from the Upper Peninsula, reported jobless rate reductions over the month.
Since January 2017, unemployment rates were down in 62 counties, up in 13 counties and were unchanged in the remaining eight. Over the year rate changes were moderate.
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 January workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for January.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
190,600 |
194,300 |
191,600 |
-1.4% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
183,500 |
188,300 |
184,600 |
-2.0% |
0.6% |
|
Unemployment |
7,100 |
6,000 |
7,000 |
16.7% |
-1.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.7 |
3.1 |
3.6 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
63,700 |
63,200 |
62,700 |
-0.8% |
-1.6% |
|
Total Employment |
60,200 |
60,100 |
59,300 |
-1.3% |
-1.5% |
|
Unemployment |
3,500 |
3,100 |
3,400 |
9.7% |
-2.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.5 |
4.9 |
5.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
51,200 |
50,700 |
50,900 |
0.4% |
-0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
47,800 |
47,900 |
47,500 |
-0.8% |
-0.6% |
|
Unemployment |
3,500 |
2,800 |
3,400 |
21.4% |
-2.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.8 |
5.5 |
6.8 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,092 |
2,112 |
2,083 |
-1.4% |
-0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
1,973 |
2,026 |
1,982 |
-2.2% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
119 |
86 |
101 |
17.4% |
-15.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.7 |
4.1 |
4.9 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
180,900 |
182,400 |
180,900 |
-0.8% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
168,900 |
172,000 |
168,900 |
-1.8% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
12,000 |
10,400 |
12,000 |
15.4% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.6 |
5.7 |
6.6 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
565,000 |
573,100 |
570,400 |
-0.5% |
1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
542,200 |
553,000 |
547,600 |
-1.0% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
22,800 |
20,100 |
22,700 |
12.9% |
-0.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.0 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
73,900 |
74,200 |
73,900 |
-0.4% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
69,800 |
70,900 |
69,900 |
-1.4% |
0.1% |
|
Unemployment |
4,200 |
3,300 |
4,000 |
21.2% |
-4.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.6 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
166,900 |
168,400 |
166,900 |
-0.9% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
158,300 |
160,900 |
158,600 |
-1.4% |
0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
8,600 |
7,500 |
8,400 |
12.0% |
-2.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.2 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
248,400 |
249,000 |
249,900 |
0.4% |
0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
237,000 |
239,300 |
237,300 |
-0.8% |
0.1% |
|
Unemployment |
11,500 |
9,700 |
12,600 |
29.9% |
9.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.6 |
3.9 |
5.0 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,400 |
39,900 |
39,800 |
-0.3% |
-1.5% |
|
Total Employment |
38,000 |
38,100 |
37,600 |
-1.3% |
-1.1% |
|
Unemployment |
2,300 |
1,900 |
2,300 |
21.1% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.8 |
4.6 |
5.7 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
75,500 |
75,900 |
75,600 |
-0.4% |
0.1% |
|
Total Employment |
71,800 |
72,700 |
71,600 |
-1.5% |
-0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
3,700 |
3,100 |
4,000 |
29.0% |
8.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.9 |
4.1 |
5.3 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
77,100 |
77,700 |
77,300 |
-0.5% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
72,300 |
73,600 |
72,800 |
-1.1% |
0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
4,800 |
4,100 |
4,500 |
9.8% |
-6.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.2 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
72,400 |
72,800 |
72,100 |
-1.0% |
-0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
68,000 |
69,100 |
68,000 |
-1.6% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
4,400 |
3,700 |
4,200 |
13.5% |
-4.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
5.1 |
5.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
87,600 |
87,300 |
87,000 |
-0.3% |
-0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
82,000 |
82,600 |
81,300 |
-1.6% |
-0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
5,600 |
4,600 |
5,700 |
23.9% |
1.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.4 |
5.3 |
6.6 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
137,300 |
137,300 |
136,700 |
-0.4% |
-0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
125,800 |
127,700 |
126,100 |
-1.3% |
0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
11,500 |
9,700 |
10,600 |
9.3% |
-7.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
8.3 |
7.0 |
7.7 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
81,700 |
82,000 |
82,100 |
0.1% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
72,900 |
74,400 |
73,400 |
-1.3% |
0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
8,900 |
7,500 |
8,700 |
16.0% |
-2.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
10.8 |
9.2 |
10.6 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
146,200 |
148,100 |
147,500 |
-0.4% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
135,200 |
139,200 |
137,000 |
-1.6% |
1.3% |
|
Unemployment |
11,000 |
8,900 |
10,400 |
16.9% |
-5.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.5 |
6.0 |
7.1 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, Regional DTMB Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Jan-17 |
Dec-17 |
Jan-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,835 |
4,876 |
4,835 |
-0.8% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
4,560 |
4,659 |
4,580 |
-1.7% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
275 |
217 |
255 |
17.5% |
-7.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.7 |
4.4 |
5.3 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE JANUARY 2018 |
|||||||
|
1 |
Washtenaw County |
3.6 |
43 |
Mecosta County |
6.8 |
||
|
2 |
Ottawa County |
3.7 |
44 |
Bay County |
6.8 |
||
|
3 |
Oakland County |
3.8 |
45 |
Osceola County |
6.9 |
||
|
4 |
Kent County |
3.9 |
46 |
Lapeer County |
7.1 |
||
|
5 |
Livingston County |
4.0 |
47 |
Gratiot County |
7.1 |
||
|
6 |
St. Joseph County |
4.3 |
48 |
Otsego County |
7.3 |
||
|
7 |
Kalamazoo County |
4.4 |
49 |
Van Buren County |
7.4 |
||
|
8 |
Clinton County |
4.6 |
50 |
Mason County |
7.4 |
||
|
9 |
Macomb County |
4.6 |
51 |
Charlevoix County |
7.5 |
||
|
10 |
Allegan County |
4.7 |
52 |
Delta County |
7.5 |
||
|
11 |
Barry County |
4.9 |
53 |
Sanilac County |
7.7 |
||
|
12 |
Ionia County |
4.9 |
54 |
Missaukee County |
7.8 |
||
|
13 |
Branch County |
5.0 |
55 |
Luce County |
7.9 |
||
|
14 |
Ingham County |
5.1 |
56 |
Tuscola County |
8.0 |
||
|
15 |
Isabella County |
5.1 |
57 |
Baraga County |
8.1 |
||
|
16 |
Dickinson County |
5.2 |
58 |
Gladwin County |
8.2 |
||
|
17 |
Eaton County |
5.3 |
59 |
Iron County |
8.2 |
||
|
18 |
Grand Traverse County |
5.3 |
60 |
Benzie County |
8.3 |
||
|
19 |
Hillsdale County |
5.3 |
61 |
Crawford County |
8.3 |
||
|
20 |
Monroe County |
5.3 |
62 |
Keweenaw County |
8.4 |
||
|
21 |
Cass County |
5.4 |
63 |
Manistee County |
8.4 |
||
|
22 |
Calhoun County |
5.4 |
64 |
Antrim County |
8.5 |
||
|
23 |
Jackson County |
5.4 |
65 |
Clare County |
8.7 |
||
|
24 |
Lenawee County |
5.6 |
66 |
Kalkaska County |
9.0 |
||
|
25 |
Menominee County |
5.7 |
67 |
Emmet County |
9.2 |
||
|
26 |
Midland County |
5.7 |
68 |
Ontonagon County |
9.2 |
||
|
27 |
Wayne County |
5.8 |
69 |
Alcona County |
9.4 |
||
|
28 |
Berrien County |
5.8 |
70 |
Lake County |
9.4 |
||
|
29 |
Montcalm County |
5.9 |
71 |
Oscoda County |
9.4 |
||
|
30 |
Gogebic County |
5.9 |
72 |
Iosco County |
9.5 |
||
|
31 |
Muskegon County |
5.9 |
73 |
Oceana County |
9.6 |
||
|
32 |
Newaygo County |
6.0 |
74 |
Chippewa County |
9.7 |
||
|
33 |
St. Clair County |
6.0 |
75 |
Alger County |
10.4 |
||
|
34 |
Houghton County |
6.3 |
76 |
Ogemaw County |
10.7 |
||
|
35 |
Wexford County |
6.5 |
77 |
Arenac County |
11.2 |
||
|
36 |
Huron County |
6.6 |
78 |
Schoolcraft County |
11.3 |
||
|
37 |
Leelanau County |
6.6 |
79 |
Roscommon County |
11.9 |
||
|
38 |
Genesee County |
6.6 |
80 |
Presque Isle County |
13.0 |
||
|
39 |
Saginaw County |
6.6 |
81 |
Montmorency County |
13.2 |
||
|
40 |
Marquette County |
6.7 |
82 |
Cheboygan County |
18.8 |
||
|
41 |
Shiawassee County |
6.7 |
83 |
Mackinac County |
21.6 |
||
|
42 |
Alpena County |
6.8 |
|||||
