Michigan's April Jobless Rate Flat

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 4.7 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB).  Total employment increased by 6,000 over the month and the number of unemployed declined by 2,000.  The net impact was a 4,000 advance in the state’s workforce over the month.

The Michigan jobless rate in April 2018 was three-tenths of a percentage point above the state’s April 2017 rate of 4.4 percent.  The national jobless rate declined by five-tenths of a percentage point over this period.  The state’s unemployment rate in April was eight-tenths of a percentage point above the national rate.  The U.S. jobless rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.9 percent in April.

“Although Michigan’s jobless rate was unchanged over the month, a number of the state’s industry sectors reported lower than normal April seasonal job gains,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.  “Hiring in industries such as Leisure and hospitality services and Construction was likely limited in April by weather conditions.”

Monthly Labor Force Trends & Highlights

• Michigan’s unemployment rates, and overall labor market, have been very stable since September.  The state’s monthly jobless rates remained at 4.7 percent over much of that period.
• Since September, total employment advanced moderately in Michigan by 6,000 while the number of unemployed edged downward by 2,000.  The state’s workforce has remained essentially flat over this period at around 4,900,000.
• April marked the 17^th consecutive month dating back to December 2016 that the number of unemployed in Michigan remained below 250,000.  The last time that occurred was in 2000 to 2001.
• Since April 2017, total employment in Michigan advanced by 23,000 or 0.5 percent while the number of unemployed increased by 12,000 or 5.6 percent.  The state’s labor force rose by 35,000 or 0.7 percent over that period.  Nationally, total employment increased by 1.3 percent and the number of unemployed fell by 9.6 percent since April 2017.  The nation’s workforce grew by 0.8 percent over the year.                                                                                 

MICHIGAN

Labor Force Estimates

Seasonally Adjusted

(Data in Thousands)

Detroit Metropolitan Area’s April Jobless Rate Unchanged

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA’s) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April of 4.5 percent was unchanged from the area’s January through March rates.  Both total employment and the workforce in the region inched up by 1,000 over the month.  The number of unemployed was flat from March to April.  The region’s 4.5 percent jobless rate so far in 2018 rose by a half percentage point since the recent low rate of 4.0 percent displayed in June 2017.  From December to April, the Detroit metro area’s total employment and labor force levels have recorded a reduction of 6,000 while the number of unemployed was little changed.

From April 2017 to April 2018, the Detroit metropolitan area’s jobless rate edged up by two-tenths of a percentage point.  Since April 2017, total employment increased by 7,000 or 0.3 percent and the number of unemployed moved upward by 4,000 or 4.4 percent.  The Detroit MSA’s workforce rose moderately by 11,000 or 0.5 percent over the year.  The growth in the area’s employment level and workforce lagged both the state and the nation over this period.

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA

Labor Force Estimates

Seasonally Adjusted

(Data in Thousands)

April Payroll Jobs Down Due to Lack of Seasonal Gains  

According to the monthly survey of employers, seasonally adjusted Michigan payroll jobs declined in April by 10,000 to 4,414,000.  The over-the-month statewide job reduction was concentrated in Leisure and hospitality services (-4,000) and Professional and business services (-3,000).  The state’s remaining major industry sectors showed relatively minor changes over the month.

Industry Employment Trends and Highlights                    

• After six consecutive months of overall job gains, April marked the first monthly job reduction in the state since September.  April’s job total of 4,414,000 matched February’s level.
• In the first four months of 2018, Michigan payroll jobs rose by 19,000 or 0.4 percent.  Over the same period in 2017, payroll jobs increased in the state by 23,900 or 0.6 percent.
• The over-the-month job decrease in Professional and business services broke a string of five consecutive monthly gains in this sector dating back to November.  However, the April job count of 658,000 was the second highest total in the sector’s statewide history.
• Leisure and hospitality services registered a 4,000 drop in jobs over the month, which pushed this sector’s April job total to the lowest level in 2018.  However, jobs in Leisure and hospitality services increased by 6,000 or 1.3 percent since April 2017.
• From April 2017 to April 2018, payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 45,000 or 1.0 percent, which lagged the national gain over this period of 1.6 percent.  Since April 2017, ten of Michigan’s 11 major sectors recorded job advances.  The exception was Information (-2,000).  Retail trade, a large sub-sector of Trade transportation and utilities also reported a 2,000 job reduction over the year.
• Seasonally adjusted average weekly hours and earnings of production workers in Manufacturing increased over the month as well as over the year.