June 21, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in May declined seasonally in 14 of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment rose in all areas over the month, while workforce levels increased in most regions.
“As is typical for May, the primary labor market changes in May 2018 occurred in the state’s northern lower Michigan regions as hiring for the tourism season escalated,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Since May 2017, employment has increased, and unemployment rates have fallen in the majority of Michigan’s local areas.”
During May, the jobless rate reductions in the 14 regions ranged from 0.1 to 2.1 percentage points with a median decline of 0.3 of a percentage point. The largest rate drops by far were recorded in the state’s three northernmost areas which include the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-2.1), the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-1.2) and the Upper Peninsula (-1.1). The next largest decreases of 0.5 of a percentage point were posted in both the Bay City and Midland Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). May jobless rates increased slightly in the Monroe (+0.3), Ann Arbor (+0.2) and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (+0.1) MSAs. In May, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 2.9 to 5.9 percent. The May Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 3.8 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 3.6 percent.
Unemployment Rates Down Slightly Over Year
Since May 2017, jobless rates declined in 16 of the 17 Michigan regions. Decreases ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 of a percentage point with a median rate cut of 0.3 of a percentage point. The largest over-the-year reduction of a half percentage point occurred in the Bay City MSA, while four other regions recorded declines of 0.4 of a percentage point. The unemployment rate in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA rose slightly by 0.3 of a percentage point since May 2017.
Total Employment Up Over Month, Year
From April to May, total employment levels rose seasonally in all 17 regions. Employment gains were wide-ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 percent with a solid median advance of 1.1 percent. The most pronounced over-the-month employment increases were registered in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+5.0%) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+4.3%). Combined these two areas recorded an employment gain of nearly 10,000 in May as employers continued hiring for the summer tourism season.
Since May 2017, total employment grew in 16 areas with a sturdy median increase of 1.2 percent. The largest gains over this period were recorded in the Ann Arbor (+3.4%) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.6%) MSAs along with the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+2.0%). Employment was down slightly by 0.1 percent over the year in the Niles-Benton Harbor MSA.
Labor Force Levels Up Over Month, Year
Between April and May, workforce levels rose seasonally in 13 areas with gains ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 percent. The labor force in the Upper Peninsula declined slightly over the month (-0.3%), while workforce levels in the Bay City, Kalamazoo-Portage and Lansing-East Lansing metro regions were essentially unchanged in May.
Since May 2017, labor force levels advanced in 15 regions. The workforce declined slightly over the year in the Niles-Benton Harbor MSA (-0.3%), while the labor force was essentially unchanged in the Muskegon MSA. Over-the-year gains ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 percent with a median increase of 1.0 percent.
Seasonal and Tourism-Related Hiring Jumps in May
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan rose by 65,000 or 1.5 percent in May to 4,458,000. May job gains were mostly seasonal and were led by increases in Leisure and hospitality services (+25,000), Construction (+16,000), Professional and business services (+9,000) and Retail trade (+9,000). State government education recorded a seasonal reduction of 17,000 in May due to the end of the winter/spring semester at a number of the state’s universities.
In May, payroll jobs increased in 12 of the state’s 14 metro regions with gains ranging from 0.2 to 1.9 percent and a median rise of 1.0 percent. The most notable regional percent job increases occurred in the Muskegon (+1.9%), Niles-Benton Harbor (+1.6%) and Midland (+1.6%) metro areas. Payroll jobs were down slightly in May in the Ann Arbor MSA (-0.1%) while jobs were little changed in the Bay City MSA.
Since May 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 56,000 or 1.3 percent. Ten of Michigan’s 14 major metro regions recorded job advances over the year ranging from 0.2 to 3.2 percent. The biggest over-the-year job increases on a percentage basis were posted in the Ann Arbor (+3.2%), Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.1%) and Kalamazoo-Portage (+1.1%) MSAs. Payroll jobs declined since May 2017 in the Niles-Benton Harbor (-1.3%), Muskegon (-1.1%), Battle Creek (-0.7%) and Midland (-0.3%) metro regions.
County Jobless Rates Down Over Month, Year
Seventy-three of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded seasonal unemployment rate drops in May, with a median decline of 0.7 of a percentage point. The majority of the larger over-the-month rate reductions were from counties in the state’s northern regions. Jobless rates rose slightly in four counties over the month while the rates in six counties were unchanged. In May, 15 Michigan counties displayed unemployment rates below the national non-seasonally adjusted rate of 3.6 percent. All Michigan counties in May reported unemployment rates below ten percent.
Since May 2017, unemployment rates fell in 67 counties, with a minor median decline of 0.3 of a percentage point. Jobless rates rose in 15 counties over the year, while the rate in Huron County was unchanged since May 2017.
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 May workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for May.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
191,500 |
196,500 |
197,500 |
0.5% |
3.1% |
|
Total Employment |
185,200 |
190,900 |
191,500 |
0.3% |
3.4% |
|
Unemployment |
6,300 |
5,600 |
6,000 |
7.1% |
-4.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.3 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
63,900 |
63,400 |
64,000 |
0.9% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
61,100 |
60,600 |
61,300 |
1.2% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
2,900 |
2,800 |
2,600 |
-7.1% |
-10.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.5 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
50,700 |
50,800 |
50,800 |
0.0% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
48,000 |
48,200 |
48,500 |
0.6% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
2,700 |
2,700 |
2,400 |
-11.1% |
-11.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.2 |
5.2 |
4.7 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,093 |
2,093 |
2,118 |
1.2% |
1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
2,022 |
2,017 |
2,040 |
1.1% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
71 |
76 |
78 |
2.6% |
9.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
183,700 |
182,400 |
184,600 |
1.2% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
174,400 |
173,200 |
175,900 |
1.6% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
9,300 |
9,200 |
8,700 |
-5.4% |
-6.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
572,800 |
581,600 |
586,200 |
0.8% |
2.3% |
|
Total Employment |
554,800 |
564,100 |
569,200 |
0.9% |
2.6% |
|
Unemployment |
18,000 |
17,500 |
17,100 |
-2.3% |
-5.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.1 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,500 |
74,700 |
75,500 |
1.1% |
1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
71,400 |
71,700 |
72,600 |
1.3% |
1.7% |
|
Unemployment |
3,100 |
3,000 |
2,900 |
-3.3% |
-6.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.2 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
166,900 |
168,900 |
168,900 |
0.0% |
1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
160,200 |
162,500 |
162,800 |
0.2% |
1.6% |
|
Unemployment |
6,700 |
6,300 |
6,100 |
-3.2% |
-9.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
251,500 |
253,700 |
253,600 |
0.0% |
0.8% |
|
Total Employment |
242,200 |
244,800 |
245,100 |
0.1% |
1.2% |
|
Unemployment |
9,300 |
8,900 |
8,500 |
-4.5% |
-8.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.7 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,700 |
40,400 |
40,800 |
1.0% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
38,900 |
38,600 |
39,200 |
1.6% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
1,700 |
1,800 |
1,600 |
-11.1% |
-5.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.3 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
76,300 |
76,600 |
77,400 |
1.0% |
1.4% |
|
Total Employment |
73,000 |
73,800 |
74,300 |
0.7% |
1.8% |
|
Unemployment |
3,300 |
2,900 |
3,100 |
6.9% |
-6.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.3 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
78,500 |
77,500 |
78,500 |
1.3% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
74,700 |
73,800 |
74,900 |
1.5% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
3,800 |
3,700 |
3,600 |
-2.7% |
-5.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.8 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,400 |
73,100 |
74,200 |
1.5% |
-0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
71,200 |
69,900 |
71,100 |
1.7% |
-0.1% |
|
Unemployment |
3,200 |
3,200 |
3,100 |
-3.1% |
-3.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
87,000 |
86,900 |
87,400 |
0.6% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
82,700 |
82,600 |
83,400 |
1.0% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
4,300 |
4,400 |
4,000 |
-9.1% |
-7.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4.6 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
136,700 |
138,200 |
137,800 |
-0.3% |
0.8% |
|
Total Employment |
128,800 |
129,000 |
130,100 |
0.9% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
7,900 |
9,200 |
7,600 |
-17.4% |
-3.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.8 |
6.7 |
5.6 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
83,300 |
82,000 |
84,100 |
2.6% |
1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
78,200 |
75,400 |
79,200 |
5.0% |
1.3% |
|
Unemployment |
5,100 |
6,600 |
5,000 |
-24.2% |
-2.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
8.0 |
5.9 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
149,500 |
147,700 |
152,200 |
3.0% |
1.8% |
|
Total Employment |
142,400 |
139,300 |
145,300 |
4.3% |
2.0% |
|
Unemployment |
7,100 |
8,400 |
6,900 |
-17.9% |
-2.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.7 |
5.7 |
4.5 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
May-17 |
Apr-18 |
May-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,865 |
4,879 |
4,926 |
1.0% |
1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
4,678 |
4,685 |
4,739 |
1.2% |
1.3% |
|
Unemployment |
187 |
194 |
187 |
-3.6% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.8 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE MAY 2018 |
||||||
|
1 |
Ottawa County |
2.7 |
43 |
Mecosta County |
4.6 |
|
|
2 |
Livingston County |
2.8 |
44 |
Muskegon County |
4.6 |
|
|
3 |
Kent County |
2.9 |
45 |
Saginaw County |
4.6 |
|
|
4 |
Oakland County |
2.9 |
46 |
Huron County |
4.7 |
|
|
5 |
Clinton County |
3.0 |
47 |
Alpena County |
4.7 |
|
|
6 |
Washtenaw County |
3.0 |
48 |
Bay County |
4.7 |
|
|
7 |
Allegan County |
3.1 |
49 |
Genesee County |
4.7 |
|
|
8 |
Eaton County |
3.2 |
50 |
Sanilac County |
5.0 |
|
|
9 |
St. Joseph County |
3.2 |
51 |
Marquette County |
5.1 |
|
|
10 |
Barry County |
3.3 |
52 |
Cheboygan County |
5.2 |
|
|
11 |
Kalamazoo County |
3.4 |
53 |
Gladwin County |
5.2 |
|
|
12 |
Ionia County |
3.4 |
54 |
Benzie County |
5.3 |
|
|
13 |
Grand Traverse County |
3.5 |
55 |
Otsego County |
5.3 |
|
|
14 |
Ingham County |
3.5 |
56 |
Kalkaska County |
5.4 |
|
|
15 |
Macomb County |
3.5 |
57 |
Antrim County |
5.5 |
|
|
16 |
Branch County |
3.6 |
58 |
Delta County |
5.5 |
|
|
17 |
Dickinson County |
3.8 |
59 |
Clare County |
5.6 |
|
|
18 |
Cass County |
3.8 |
60 |
Iron County |
5.6 |
|
|
19 |
Lenawee County |
3.8 |
61 |
Tuscola County |
5.6 |
|
|
20 |
Hillsdale County |
3.8 |
62 |
Houghton County |
5.7 |
|
|
21 |
Isabella County |
3.8 |
63 |
Emmet County |
5.8 |
|
|
22 |
Jackson County |
3.8 |
64 |
Manistee County |
5.8 |
|
|
23 |
St. Clair County |
3.9 |
65 |
Gogebic County |
5.8 |
|
|
24 |
Midland County |
3.9 |
66 |
Alcona County |
6.0 |
|
|
25 |
Leelanau County |
4.0 |
67 |
Crawford County |
6.0 |
|
|
26 |
Montcalm County |
4.0 |
68 |
Iosco County |
6.0 |
|
|
27 |
Newaygo County |
4.0 |
69 |
Oceana County |
6.0 |
|
|
28 |
Shiawassee County |
4.0 |
70 |
Oscoda County |
6.1 |
|
|
29 |
Monroe County |
4.0 |
71 |
Arenac County |
6.4 |
|
|
30 |
Calhoun County |
4.1 |
72 |
Ogemaw County |
6.5 |
|
|
31 |
Lapeer County |
4.2 |
73 |
Lake County |
6.7 |
|
|
32 |
Menominee County |
4.2 |
74 |
Presque Isle County |
6.7 |
|
|
33 |
Gratiot County |
4.2 |
75 |
Chippewa County |
6.8 |
|
|
34 |
Berrien County |
4.2 |
76 |
Luce County |
6.9 |
|
|
35 |
Osceola County |
4.3 |
77 |
Baraga County |
7.0 |
|
|
36 |
Mason County |
4.4 |
78 |
Roscommon County |
7.3 |
|
|
37 |
Mackinac County |
4.5 |
79 |
Schoolcraft County |
7.3 |
|
|
38 |
Wexford County |
4.5 |
80 |
Montmorency County |
8.0 |
|
|
39 |
Wayne County |
4.5 |
81 |
Keweenaw County |
8.1 |
|
|
40 |
Charlevoix County |
4.6 |
82 |
Alger County |
8.4 |
|
|
41 |
Missaukee County |
4.6 |
83 |
Ontonagon County |
9.4 |
|
|
42 |
Van Buren County |
4.6 |
||||
