April 26, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in March fell in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment levels rose in all areas over the month, while workforce levels were mixed.
“The moderate jobless rate reductions throughout Michigan’s regional labor markets were typical for March,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “The state’s local labor markets have been very steady over the past year, with unemployment rates showing little change since March 2017.”
During March, jobless rates declined seasonally in the state’s 17 regions, ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 percentage points with a median rate reduction of 0.7 of a percentage point. The largest rate decreases were displayed in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.2), the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (-1.1) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-0.9). In March, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 3.1 to 10.1 percent. The March Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.6 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 4.1 percent.
Unemployment Rates Stable Over Year
Since March 2017, unemployment rates rose slightly in eight regions, declined marginally in six areas and were unchanged in the Ann Arbor and Jackson MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region. Over-the-year rate changes were limited to plus or minus 0.3 of a percentage point or less.
Total Employment Up Over Month, Year
From February to March, total employment levels rose seasonally in all 17 regions. Employment increases in March ranged from 0.2 to 1.1 percent with a median gain of 0.8 percent. The most notable over-the-month advance was posted in the Ann Arbor MSA (+1.1%), while the Battle Creek, Jackson, Monroe and Niles-Benton Harbor MSAs recorded 1.0 percent employment additions.
Since March 2017, total employment rose in 11 areas, declined in three regions and was essentially unchanged in the remaining three. The median over-the-year gain was 0.9 percent with the largest employment advances registered in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA (+1.8%), the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.5%) and the Ann Arbor MSA (+1.4%). Employment was down since March 2017 in the Midland (-1.0%), Battle Creek (-0.5%) and Saginaw (-0.5%) metro areas, while employment was flat in the Bay City, Monroe and Niles-Benton Harbor MSAs.
Note: Labor force, employment, and unemployment data for 2013 through 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 through March 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 Mixed Over Month, Up Over Year
Between February and March, workforce levels rose in eight regions, declined in six areas and were flat in the Bay City, Midland and Muskegon MSAs. Labor force changes were mostly minor over the month, with the largest advances posted in the Ann Arbor (+0.5%), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (+0.4%) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+0.4%) MSAs. The largest reductions were seasonal declines of 0.6 percent each recorded in the Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan regions along with the Upper Peninsula.
Since March 2017, labor force levels rose in 13 state regions. The most pronounced workforce advances over this period were shown in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+1.9%) and Ann Arbor (+1.4%) MSAs along with the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.4%). Over the year workforce reductions were reported in the Midland (-0.7%), Battle Creek (-0.3%), Saginaw (-0.3%) and Monroe (-0.1%) metro areas.
Seasonal Sectors Push March Payroll Jobs Upward
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan rose by 28,000 or 0.6 percent in March to 4,377,000. Job gains in March were widespread throughout a number of state sectors, with the most notable advances recorded in Professional and business services (+9,000), Trade, transportation and utilities (+6,000), Leisure and hospitality services (+5,000) and Construction (+5,000). The state’s remaining industry sectors either registered minor job additions or were stable.
In March, payroll jobs increased in 12 of the state’s 14 metro regions. The median over-the-month job advance was 0.6 percent with the largest gains displayed in the Battle Creek (+0.9%), Jackson (+0.9%), Ann Arbor (+0.8%) and Niles-Benton Harbor (+0.8%) MSAs. Jobs were down slightly in March in the Lansing-East Lansing MSA (-0.3%), while jobs were little changed in the Muskegon area.
Since March 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 60,000 or 1.4 percent. Eight of Michigan’s 14 major metro regions recorded jobs gains over the year ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 percent. The largest percentage metro region job additions over this period occurred in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.0%), Ann Arbor (+1.7%), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (+1.2%) and Kalamazoo-Portage (+1.2%) MSAs. Five metro regions registered job reductions since March 2017 with the biggest declines recorded in the Midland (-1.3%), Battle Creek (-0.7%) and Saginaw (-0.6%) metro regions. Jobs were essentially unchanged in the Monroe MSA over the year.
County Jobless Rates Down Over Month, Mixed Over Year
Eighty-two of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded seasonal unemployment rate reductions in March. The median over-the-month rate decline was 0.7 of a percentage point, with the largest county rate decreases coming from the state’s northern regions. Ontonagon County posted a minor jobless rate hike in March. Since March 2017, 40 counties reported jobless rate reductions while 30 counties posted increases. Thirteen counties showed no rate change over this period. Jobless rate changes were mostly minor over the year, with a median decline of 0.3 of a percentage point and a median uptick of 0.2 of a percentage point.
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 March workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for March.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
193,700 |
195,400 |
196,400 |
0.5% |
1.4% |
|
Total Employment |
187,600 |
188,300 |
190,300 |
1.1% |
1.4% |
|
Unemployment |
6,000 |
7,000 |
6,000 |
-14.3% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.1 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
64,000 |
63,600 |
63,800 |
0.3% |
-0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
60,900 |
60,000 |
60,600 |
1.0% |
-0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
3,100 |
3,600 |
3,200 |
-11.1% |
3.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.8 |
5.6 |
4.9 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
51,000 |
51,200 |
51,200 |
0.0% |
0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
48,000 |
47,700 |
48,000 |
0.6% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,100 |
3,500 |
3,100 |
-11.4% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.0 |
6.9 |
6.1 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,101 |
2,099 |
2,107 |
0.4% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
2,006 |
2,001 |
2,017 |
0.8% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
95 |
98 |
90 |
-8.2% |
-5.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
181,900 |
182,900 |
183,100 |
0.1% |
0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
171,300 |
170,900 |
172,500 |
0.9% |
0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
10,600 |
11,900 |
10,600 |
-10.9% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.9 |
6.5 |
5.8 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
569,200 |
578,100 |
580,200 |
0.4% |
1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
550,000 |
554,900 |
560,100 |
0.9% |
1.8% |
|
Unemployment |
19,200 |
23,100 |
20,100 |
-13.0% |
4.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.4 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,300 |
74,800 |
75,000 |
0.3% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
70,800 |
70,800 |
71,500 |
1.0% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,500 |
4,000 |
3,400 |
-15.0% |
-2.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.6 |
5.3 |
4.6 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
168,200 |
170,000 |
169,900 |
-0.1% |
1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
161,000 |
161,300 |
162,400 |
0.7% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
7,200 |
8,700 |
7,500 |
-13.8% |
4.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.3 |
5.1 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
250,100 |
253,100 |
252,000 |
-0.4% |
0.8% |
|
Total Employment |
240,100 |
241,800 |
242,200 |
0.2% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
9,900 |
11,300 |
9,800 |
-13.3% |
-1.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.0 |
4.5 |
3.9 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,600 |
40,300 |
40,300 |
0.0% |
-0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
38,600 |
38,000 |
38,200 |
0.5% |
-1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
2,000 |
2,300 |
2,100 |
-8.7% |
5.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
5.8 |
5.2 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
76,600 |
76,600 |
76,500 |
-0.1% |
-0.1% |
|
Total Employment |
73,200 |
72,500 |
73,200 |
1.0% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,400 |
4,100 |
3,200 |
-22.0% |
-5.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.5 |
5.3 |
4.2 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
77,400 |
77,800 |
77,800 |
0.0% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
73,300 |
73,100 |
73,600 |
0.7% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
4,000 |
4,700 |
4,200 |
-10.6% |
5.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.2 |
6.1 |
5.5 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
73,400 |
73,500 |
73,600 |
0.1% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
69,800 |
69,100 |
69,800 |
1.0% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,600 |
4,400 |
3,800 |
-13.6% |
5.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.9 |
6.0 |
5.2 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
88,000 |
87,600 |
87,700 |
0.1% |
-0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
83,000 |
81,900 |
82,600 |
0.9% |
-0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
5,000 |
5,700 |
5,100 |
-10.5% |
2.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.7 |
6.5 |
5.8 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
138,700 |
139,800 |
139,000 |
-0.6% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
128,000 |
128,200 |
128,600 |
0.3% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
10,700 |
11,600 |
10,500 |
-9.5% |
-1.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.7 |
8.3 |
7.5 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
81,600 |
82,900 |
82,400 |
-0.6% |
1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
73,400 |
73,600 |
74,100 |
0.7% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
8,200 |
9,300 |
8,300 |
-10.8% |
1.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
10.1 |
11.3 |
10.1 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
145,800 |
148,700 |
147,800 |
-0.6% |
1.4% |
|
Total Employment |
135,800 |
137,500 |
137,900 |
0.3% |
1.5% |
|
Unemployment |
10,000 |
11,300 |
10,000 |
-11.5% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.9 |
7.6 |
6.7 |
||
|
Contact: Brandon Betz, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-3875 |
|||||
|
Mar-17 |
Feb-18 |
Mar-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,865 |
4,888 |
4,896 |
0.2% |
0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
4,634 |
4,634 |
4,669 |
0.8% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
231 |
254 |
227 |
-10.6% |
-1.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.7 |
5.2 |
4.6 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE MARCH 2018 |
||||||
|
1 |
Washtenaw County |
3.1 |
43 |
Bay County |
6.1 |
|
|
2 |
Ottawa County |
3.2 |
44 |
Van Buren County |
6.3 |
|
|
3 |
Kent County |
3.4 |
45 |
Leelanau County |
6.4 |
|
|
4 |
Oakland County |
3.4 |
46 |
Marquette County |
6.4 |
|
|
5 |
Livingston County |
3.5 |
47 |
Huron County |
6.5 |
|
|
6 |
Clinton County |
3.7 |
48 |
Mason County |
6.5 |
|
|
7 |
St. Joseph County |
3.7 |
49 |
Otsego County |
6.6 |
|
|
8 |
Eaton County |
3.8 |
50 |
Alpena County |
6.7 |
|
|
9 |
Kalamazoo County |
3.9 |
51 |
Missaukee County |
6.8 |
|
|
10 |
Ingham County |
4.0 |
52 |
Charlevoix County |
6.9 |
|
|
11 |
Macomb County |
4.1 |
53 |
Sanilac County |
7.1 |
|
|
12 |
Allegan County |
4.1 |
54 |
Tuscola County |
7.1 |
|
|
13 |
Ionia County |
4.1 |
55 |
Delta County |
7.3 |
|
|
14 |
Barry County |
4.2 |
56 |
Gladwin County |
7.4 |
|
|
15 |
Monroe County |
4.2 |
57 |
Luce County |
7.7 |
|
|
16 |
Branch County |
4.3 |
58 |
Antrim County |
7.9 |
|
|
17 |
Lenawee County |
4.5 |
59 |
Benzie County |
8.0 |
|
|
18 |
Hillsdale County |
4.5 |
60 |
Keweenaw County |
8.0 |
|
|
19 |
Isabella County |
4.6 |
61 |
Clare County |
8.1 |
|
|
20 |
Jackson County |
4.6 |
62 |
Iron County |
8.2 |
|
|
21 |
Cass County |
4.8 |
63 |
Crawford County |
8.3 |
|
|
22 |
Dickinson County |
4.9 |
64 |
Manistee County |
8.3 |
|
|
23 |
Calhoun County |
4.9 |
65 |
Baraga County |
8.4 |
|
|
24 |
Grand Traverse County |
5.0 |
66 |
Oscoda County |
8.4 |
|
|
25 |
Wayne County |
5.0 |
67 |
Kalkaska County |
8.7 |
|
|
26 |
Menominee County |
5.0 |
68 |
Alcona County |
9.0 |
|
|
27 |
Montcalm County |
5.2 |
69 |
Iosco County |
9.0 |
|
|
28 |
St. Clair County |
5.2 |
70 |
Oceana County |
9.0 |
|
|
29 |
Midland County |
5.2 |
71 |
Lake County |
9.2 |
|
|
30 |
Berrien County |
5.2 |
72 |
Emmet County |
9.3 |
|
|
31 |
Shiawassee County |
5.3 |
73 |
Chippewa County |
9.5 |
|
|
32 |
Newaygo County |
5.4 |
74 |
Ogemaw County |
9.8 |
|
|
33 |
Muskegon County |
5.5 |
75 |
Arenac County |
10.3 |
|
|
34 |
Gratiot County |
5.6 |
76 |
Ontonagon County |
10.3 |
|
|
35 |
Osceola County |
5.7 |
77 |
Schoolcraft County |
10.4 |
|
|
36 |
Genesee County |
5.8 |
78 |
Roscommon County |
10.7 |
|
|
37 |
Saginaw County |
5.8 |
79 |
Alger County |
11.0 |
|
|
38 |
Wexford County |
5.9 |
80 |
Montmorency County |
12.5 |
|
|
39 |
Gogebic County |
6.0 |
81 |
Presque Isle County |
12.9 |
|
|
40 |
Houghton County |
6.1 |
82 |
Cheboygan County |
18.7 |
|
|
41 |
Lapeer County |
6.1 |
83 |
Mackinac County |
22.1 |
|
|
42 |
Mecosta County |
6.1 |
||||
