May 24, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in April fell seasonally 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 nearly all areas over the month, while workforce levels declined in most regions.
“The regional jobless rate reductions in April were typical, however payroll job growth in the state was less than typical,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “The slower pace of job gains was most likely due to poor weather conditions in April throughout Michigan, which limited hiring in some seasonal industry sectors.”
During April, the seasonal jobless rate declines in the state’s 17 regions ranged from 0.3 to 2.1 percentage points with a median rate reduction of 0.7 of a percentage point. The most pronounced rate drops were posted in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-2.1) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-1.0) along with the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (-0.9). In April, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 2.8 to 8.0 percent. The April Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.0 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 3.7 percent. Five Michigan regions displayed April unemployment rates at or below the U.S. rate.
Unemployment Rates Up Slightly Over Year
Since April 2017, unemployment rates rose marginally in 15 regions. Over-the-year rate increases were minor, ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 of a percentage point. The largest rate advance was recorded in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+0.4), while the rates in the Niles-Benton Harbor and Midland MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region edged up by 0.3 of a percentage point since April 2017. Over the year, the Monroe metro area displayed a 0.1 of a percentage point reduction, while the rate in the Jackson MSA was unchanged.
Total Employment Up Over Month, Year
From March to April, total employment levels rose seasonally in 14 regions with wide-ranging gains of 0.1 to 1.8 percent. The median advance over this period was 0.5 percent. The largest over-the-month employment increases were registered in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+1.8%), the Midland MSA (+1.0%) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+0.9%). Employment in April fell slightly in the Battle Creek metro region (-0.2%), while levels were essentially unchanged in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn and Saginaw MSAs.
Since April 2017, total employment rose in 11 areas, inched down in five regions and was essentially unchanged in the Niles-Benton Harbor MSA. The median over-the-year gain was 0.9 percent, with the most notable advances posted in Grand-Rapids-Wyoming (+2.2%), the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.5%) and the Ann Arbor MSA (+1.4%). The employment reductions over he year were limited to 0.3 percent or less with the exception of the Battle Creek MSA (-0.7%).
Labor Force Levels Down Over Month, Up Over Year
Between March and April, workforce levels declined seasonally in 12 areas. Decreases were mostly moderate (-1.0 percent or less). The largest over-the-month labor force cuts occurred in the Bay City
(-1.0%), Battle Creek (-0.8%) and Saginaw (-0.8%) MSAs. Workforce levels increased slightly in April in four regions, with advances limited to 0.4 percent or less. The labor force in the Monroe metro area was unchanged over the month.
Since April 2017, labor force levels moved up in 14 areas with a solid median gain of 1.1 percent. The largest recorded increases occurred in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA (+2.4%), the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+1.9%) and the Ann Arbor MSA (+1.6%). Workforce levels declined slightly over the year in the Battle Creek (-0.5%), Bay City (-0.2%) and Saginaw (-0.1%) MSAs.
Minor Seasonal Job Gains in April
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan rose by 14,000 or 0.3 percent in April to 4,394,000. Over-the-month job additions were posted in Construction (+6,000), Leisure and hospitality services (+5,000) and Trade, transportation and utilities (+3,000). The state’s remaining industry sectors recorded job changes of around 1,000 or less over the month. Seasonal job gains in April 2018 were somewhat muted relative to past years, most likely due to harsh weather conditions. The typical April job advance over the prior five years was 31,000.
In April, payroll jobs increased in 11 of the state’s 14 metro regions with a median gain of 0.7 percent. The largest over-the-month percent job advances were recorded in the Flint (+1.1%), Midland (+1.1%) and Lansing-East Lansing (+0.9%) MSAs. Payroll jobs declined slightly over the month in the Battle Creek (-0.2%) metro region, while jobs were little changed in the Bay City and Niles-Benton Harbor MSAs.
Since April 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 45,000 or 1.0 percent. Eight of Michigan’s 14 major metro regions recorded jobs gains over the year ranging from 0.4 to 2.3 percent. The largest percentage metro region job additions over this period occurred in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.3%), Ann Arbor (+1.4%) and Jackson (+1.2%) MSAs. Six metro regions registered job reductions over the year ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 percent. The most prominent job cuts since April 2017 occurred in the Muskegon (-1.2%), Battle Creek (-0.9%) and Bay City (-0.6%) metro regions.
County Jobless Rates Down Over Month, Up Over Year
Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded seasonal unemployment rate reductions in April, with a median drop of 0.9 of a percentage point. Jobless rates rose slightly in four counties over the month while the rate in Luce County was unchanged. In April, 17 Michigan counties displayed unemployment rates at or below the national non-seasonally adjusted rate of 3.7 percent.
Since April 2017, unemployment rates increased in 58 counties. The median advance over this period was a minor 0.3 of a percentage point. Twelve counties reported small jobless rate declines over the year while the rates in the remaining 13 counties were unchanged.
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 April workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for April.
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
193,700 |
196,600 |
196,800 |
0.1% |
1.6% |
|
Total Employment |
188,600 |
190,600 |
191,200 |
0.3% |
1.4% |
|
Unemployment |
5,100 |
6,000 |
5,600 |
-6.7% |
9.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
2.6 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
63,600 |
63,800 |
63,300 |
-0.8% |
-0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
60,900 |
60,600 |
60,500 |
-0.2% |
-0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
2,700 |
3,200 |
2,800 |
-12.5% |
3.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.2 |
4.9 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
50,800 |
51,200 |
50,700 |
-1.0% |
-0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
48,200 |
48,000 |
48,100 |
0.2% |
-0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
2,600 |
3,100 |
2,600 |
-16.1% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.1 |
6.1 |
5.2 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,076 |
2,107 |
2,093 |
-0.7% |
0.8% |
|
Total Employment |
2,006 |
2,017 |
2,017 |
0.0% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
70 |
90 |
76 |
-15.6% |
8.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.4 |
4.3 |
3.6 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
182,000 |
183,100 |
182,900 |
-0.1% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
173,100 |
172,500 |
173,700 |
0.7% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
8,900 |
10,600 |
9,200 |
-13.2% |
3.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.9 |
5.8 |
5.0 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
567,900 |
580,500 |
581,700 |
0.2% |
2.4% |
|
Total Employment |
552,200 |
560,400 |
564,200 |
0.7% |
2.2% |
|
Unemployment |
15,700 |
20,100 |
17,500 |
-12.9% |
11.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
2.8 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,000 |
74,900 |
74,800 |
-0.1% |
1.1% |
|
Total Employment |
71,000 |
71,500 |
71,800 |
0.4% |
1.1% |
|
Unemployment |
2,900 |
3,400 |
3,000 |
-11.8% |
3.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.0 |
4.6 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
167,400 |
169,700 |
168,900 |
-0.5% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
161,300 |
162,200 |
162,500 |
0.2% |
0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
6,100 |
7,500 |
6,300 |
-16.0% |
3.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.6 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
250,200 |
252,300 |
253,400 |
0.4% |
1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
242,000 |
242,500 |
244,500 |
0.8% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
8,200 |
9,800 |
8,900 |
-9.2% |
8.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.3 |
3.9 |
3.5 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,300 |
40,300 |
40,400 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
38,700 |
38,200 |
38,600 |
1.0% |
-0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
1,700 |
2,100 |
1,800 |
-14.3% |
5.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.1 |
5.2 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
76,100 |
76,600 |
76,600 |
0.0% |
0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
73,200 |
73,300 |
73,700 |
0.5% |
0.7% |
|
Unemployment |
2,900 |
3,200 |
2,800 |
-12.5% |
-3.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.8 |
4.2 |
3.7 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
77,400 |
77,800 |
77,500 |
-0.4% |
0.1% |
|
Total Employment |
73,900 |
73,600 |
73,800 |
0.3% |
-0.1% |
|
Unemployment |
3,500 |
4,200 |
3,700 |
-11.9% |
5.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.5 |
5.4 |
4.7 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
72,900 |
73,600 |
73,100 |
-0.7% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
69,900 |
69,800 |
69,900 |
0.1% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,000 |
3,800 |
3,200 |
-15.8% |
6.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.1 |
5.2 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
87,100 |
87,700 |
87,000 |
-0.8% |
-0.1% |
|
Total Employment |
82,900 |
82,700 |
82,700 |
0.0% |
-0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
4,200 |
5,100 |
4,300 |
-15.7% |
2.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.8 |
5.8 |
5.0 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
137,300 |
139,100 |
138,100 |
-0.7% |
0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
128,300 |
128,600 |
128,900 |
0.2% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
9,000 |
10,500 |
9,200 |
-12.4% |
2.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.5 |
7.5 |
6.7 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
81,000 |
82,400 |
82,000 |
-0.5% |
1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
74,700 |
74,100 |
75,400 |
1.8% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
6,200 |
8,300 |
6,600 |
-20.5% |
6.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.7 |
10.1 |
8.0 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
144,800 |
147,800 |
147,600 |
-0.1% |
1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
137,100 |
137,900 |
139,200 |
0.9% |
1.5% |
|
Unemployment |
7,700 |
10,000 |
8,400 |
-16.0% |
9.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.3 |
6.7 |
5.7 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Apr-17 |
Mar-18 |
Apr-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,829 |
4,897 |
4,878 |
-0.4% |
1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
4,648 |
4,670 |
4,685 |
0.3% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
182 |
227 |
194 |
-14.5% |
6.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.8 |
4.6 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE APRIL 2018 |
||||||
|
1 |
Ottawa County |
2.7 |
43 |
Bay County |
5.2 |
|
|
2 |
Washtenaw County |
2.8 |
44 |
Gratiot County |
5.3 |
|
|
3 |
Livingston County |
2.9 |
45 |
Huron County |
5.4 |
|
|
4 |
Oakland County |
2.9 |
46 |
Alpena County |
5.6 |
|
|
5 |
Kent County |
3.0 |
47 |
Marquette County |
5.7 |
|
|
6 |
Clinton County |
3.2 |
48 |
Missaukee County |
5.8 |
|
|
7 |
St. Joseph County |
3.3 |
49 |
Houghton County |
5.9 |
|
|
8 |
Kalamazoo County |
3.4 |
50 |
Sanilac County |
5.9 |
|
|
9 |
Allegan County |
3.4 |
51 |
Charlevoix County |
6.0 |
|
|
10 |
Ionia County |
3.4 |
52 |
Tuscola County |
6.1 |
|
|
11 |
Eaton County |
3.5 |
53 |
Gladwin County |
6.2 |
|
|
12 |
Macomb County |
3.5 |
54 |
Otsego County |
6.2 |
|
|
13 |
Barry County |
3.6 |
55 |
Delta County |
6.2 |
|
|
14 |
Ingham County |
3.6 |
56 |
Benzie County |
6.3 |
|
|
15 |
Branch County |
3.6 |
57 |
Clare County |
6.5 |
|
|
16 |
Lenawee County |
3.7 |
58 |
Gogebic County |
6.6 |
|
|
17 |
Monroe County |
3.7 |
59 |
Manistee County |
6.7 |
|
|
18 |
Cass County |
3.9 |
60 |
Oscoda County |
6.9 |
|
|
19 |
Hillsdale County |
4.0 |
61 |
Antrim County |
7.0 |
|
|
20 |
Isabella County |
4.0 |
62 |
Oceana County |
7.0 |
|
|
21 |
Jackson County |
4.0 |
63 |
Crawford County |
7.1 |
|
|
22 |
Grand Traverse County |
4.1 |
64 |
Iron County |
7.1 |
|
|
23 |
St. Clair County |
4.2 |
65 |
Iosco County |
7.2 |
|
|
24 |
Wayne County |
4.3 |
66 |
Alcona County |
7.3 |
|
|
25 |
Montcalm County |
4.4 |
67 |
Kalkaska County |
7.4 |
|
|
26 |
Newaygo County |
4.4 |
68 |
Lake County |
7.5 |
|
|
27 |
Calhoun County |
4.4 |
69 |
Luce County |
7.7 |
|
|
28 |
Midland County |
4.4 |
70 |
Chippewa County |
7.8 |
|
|
29 |
Berrien County |
4.4 |
71 |
Ogemaw County |
7.9 |
|
|
30 |
Dickinson County |
4.5 |
72 |
Emmet County |
8.4 |
|
|
31 |
Shiawassee County |
4.5 |
73 |
Arenac County |
8.8 |
|
|
32 |
Lapeer County |
4.7 |
74 |
Keweenaw County |
8.8 |
|
|
33 |
Menominee County |
4.7 |
75 |
Schoolcraft County |
8.8 |
|
|
34 |
Muskegon County |
4.7 |
76 |
Baraga County |
8.9 |
|
|
35 |
Mecosta County |
4.8 |
77 |
Presque Isle County |
9.0 |
|
|
36 |
Osceola County |
4.9 |
78 |
Roscommon County |
9.1 |
|
|
37 |
Van Buren County |
5.0 |
79 |
Alger County |
10.5 |
|
|
38 |
Genesee County |
5.0 |
80 |
Ontonagon County |
10.6 |
|
|
39 |
Saginaw County |
5.0 |
81 |
Montmorency County |
11.0 |
|
|
40 |
Leelanau County |
5.1 |
82 |
Cheboygan County |
13.0 |
|
|
41 |
Mason County |
5.1 |
83 |
Mackinac County |
15.2 |
|
|
42 |
Wexford County |
5.2 |
||||
