August 23, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in July rose seasonally in 15 of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and workforce levels fell over the month in the majority of regions.
“The jobless rate hikes were typical for July, and the largest rate increases were mostly concentrated in the state’s southern half and metro regions,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Jobs fell in July due to seasonal staffing cuts in local government education along with temporary layoffs in Michigan’s auto industry due to the annual vacation shutdown/retooling period at a number of factories.”
During July, the unemployment rate increases in the 15 regions ranged from 0.1 to 1.1 percentage points with a median advance of 0.3 of a percentage point. The most pronounced over-the-month jobless rate advances were recorded in the Flint (+1.1), Saginaw (+0.8), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (+0.6) and Lansing-East Lansing (+0.6) Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). Unemployment rates edged down over the month in the Upper Peninsula (-0.2) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-0.1). In July, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 3.6 to 6.2 percent. The July Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.8 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 4.1 percent.
Unemployment Rates Down Over Year
Since July 2017, jobless rates declined in 16 of the 17 Michigan regions. Unemployment rate reductions over the year ranged from 0.7 to 1.5 percentage points with a significant median drop of 1.1 percentage points. The largest rate declines since July 2017 occurred in the Monroe (-1.5), Battle Creek (-1.3) and Muskegon (-1.2) MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.2) and the Upper Peninsula (-1.2). The unemployment rate in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA was unchanged at 5.0 percent over this period.
Total Employment Down Over Month, Up Over Year
From June to July, total employment levels fell seasonally in 15 regions with a median drop of 0.8 percent. The largest over-the-month employment reductions on a percentage basis were posted in the Jackson (-2.1%), Flint (-2.0%) and Saginaw (-1.7%) MSAs. Total employment increased seasonally in July in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+2.0%) and the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+0.4%).
Since July 2017, total employment advanced in 15 areas by 0.1 to 2.4 percent with a solid median gain of 1.0 percent. The largest percentage employment growth took place in the Monroe (+2.4%), Lansing-East Lansing (+2.3%), Ann Arbor (+2.2%) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.2%) metro areas. Very minor employment reductions from July 2017 to July 2018 were registered in the Battle Creek and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSAs.
Labor Force Levels Down Over Month, Mixed Over Year
In July, workforce levels decreased seasonally in 13 regions with a median reduction of 0.8 percent. Notable over-the-month labor force declines were shown in the Jackson (-1.7%), Battle Creek (-1.1%), Grand Rapids-Wyoming (-1.0%) and Midland (-1.0%) MSAs. A relatively large seasonal labor force gain in July was displayed in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+2.0%) while minor advances were recorded in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, along with the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn and Muskegon MSAs.
Since July 2017, labor force levels advanced in ten regions and declined in six areas. Workforce reductions were mostly moderate with the exceptions of the Battle Creek (-1.4%) and Niles-Benton Harbor (-0.9%) MSAs. Over-the-year labor force advances were most prominent in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+1.2%), Ann Arbor (+1.1%) and Lansing-East Lansing (+1.1%) MSAs. The Muskegon metro area labor force was essentially unchanged since July 2017.
Seasonal Cuts in July Payroll Jobs
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan fell by 72,000 or 1.6 percent in July to 4,422,000. Public sector jobs decreased in July by 36,000 or 6.1 percent statewide primarily due to seasonal cutbacks in Local government education (-36,000) with the beginning of summer break at area schools.
Private sector jobs in Michigan dropped in July by 36,000 or 0.9 percent. Seasonal job reductions were recorded in Professional and business services (-23,000), Education and health services (-7,000), Manufacturing (-6,000) and Trade, transportation and utilities (-6,000). Essentially all of the job cuts in Professional and business services took place in the Temporary help sector while the job reductions in Education and health services mostly occurred in Educational services. The decline in Manufacturing jobs was concentrated in the auto industry due to the annual vacation shutdown/retooling period.
In July, payroll jobs fell in all of the state’s 14 metro regions with reductions ranging from 0.2 to 2.9 percent with a significant median drop of 1.8 percent. The largest percentage declines were posted in the Jackson (-2.9%), Flint (-2.7%) and Monroe (-2.5%) MSAs.
Since July 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 78,000 or 1.8 percent. Nine of Michigan’s 14 metro regions reported job gains over this period led by the Monroe (+2.4%), Kalamazoo-Portage (+2.3%), Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.2%) and Lansing-East Lansing (+2.2%) MSAs. Four metro areas recorded minor payroll job declines over the year, with reductions limited to 0.3 percent or less while jobs in the Flint metro region were essentially unchanged since July 2017.
County Jobless Rates Up Over Month, Down Over Year
Fifty-six of Michigan’s 83 counties posted seasonal unemployment rate increases in July, with a median advance of 0.4 of a percentage point. Twenty-one counties recorded jobless rate declines in July, while the rates in six counties were unchanged. Since July 2017, unemployment rates fell in 79 counties with a substantial median reduction of 1.1 percentage points. Jobless rates increased marginally over the year by 0.1 of a percentage point in the remaining four counties.
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.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
192,800 |
195,400 |
195,000 |
-0.2% |
1.1% |
|
Total Employment |
183,200 |
188,500 |
187,200 |
-0.7% |
2.2% |
|
Unemployment |
9,600 |
7,000 |
7,800 |
11.4% |
-18.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
64,600 |
64,400 |
63,700 |
-1.1% |
-1.4% |
|
Total Employment |
60,700 |
61,500 |
60,600 |
-1.5% |
-0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
3,900 |
2,900 |
3,100 |
6.9% |
-20.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
4.5 |
4.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
51,500 |
51,500 |
51,300 |
-0.4% |
-0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
48,100 |
48,900 |
48,500 |
-0.8% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
3,300 |
2,600 |
2,700 |
3.8% |
-18.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.5 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,138 |
2,129 |
2,137 |
0.4% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
2,030 |
2,036 |
2,029 |
-0.3% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
108 |
93 |
108 |
16.1% |
0.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.4 |
5.0 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
185,900 |
186,800 |
185,300 |
-0.8% |
-0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
173,000 |
177,300 |
173,800 |
-2.0% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
13,000 |
9,500 |
11,500 |
21.1% |
-11.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.0 |
5.1 |
6.2 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272
|
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
576,600 |
589,300 |
583,400 |
-1.0% |
1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
550,300 |
569,900 |
562,200 |
-1.4% |
2.2% |
|
Unemployment |
26,300 |
19,400 |
21,200 |
9.3% |
-19.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.6 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,400 |
75,300 |
74,000 |
-1.7% |
-0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
70,100 |
72,000 |
70,500 |
-2.1% |
0.6% |
|
Unemployment |
4,300 |
3,300 |
3,500 |
6.1% |
-18.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.8 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
167,700 |
169,900 |
169,200 |
-0.4% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
158,600 |
162,900 |
161,800 |
-0.7% |
2.0% |
|
Unemployment |
9,100 |
6,900 |
7,400 |
7.2% |
-18.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.4 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
245,400 |
248,700 |
248,000 |
-0.3% |
1.1% |
|
Total Employment |
231,700 |
239,000 |
237,000 |
-0.8% |
2.3% |
|
Unemployment |
13,700 |
9,700 |
11,000 |
13.4% |
-19.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.6 |
3.9 |
4.5 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
41,100 |
41,200 |
40,800 |
-1.0% |
-0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
38,900 |
39,500 |
39,000 |
-1.3% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
2,200 |
1,700 |
1,800 |
5.9% |
-18.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.4 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
76,700 |
78,000 |
77,300 |
-0.9% |
0.8% |
|
Total Employment |
71,800 |
74,600 |
73,500 |
-1.5% |
2.4% |
|
Unemployment |
4,900 |
3,400 |
3,800 |
11.8% |
-22.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.4 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
80,100 |
80,000 |
80,100 |
0.1% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
74,800 |
75,900 |
75,800 |
-0.1% |
1.3% |
|
Unemployment |
5,300 |
4,100 |
4,300 |
4.9% |
-18.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.6 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
75,600 |
75,400 |
74,900 |
-0.7% |
-0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
71,200 |
71,900 |
71,300 |
-0.8% |
0.1% |
|
Unemployment |
4,300 |
3,500 |
3,600 |
2.9% |
-16.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.7 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
88,400 |
88,900 |
88,200 |
-0.8% |
-0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
82,700 |
84,500 |
83,100 |
-1.7% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
5,700 |
4,400 |
5,100 |
15.9% |
-10.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.5 |
5.0 |
5.8 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
140,400 |
140,500 |
139,700 |
-0.6% |
-0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
131,200 |
132,800 |
132,200 |
-0.5% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
9,200 |
7,700 |
7,500 |
-2.6% |
-18.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.5 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
86,200 |
85,600 |
86,000 |
0.5% |
-0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
80,000 |
80,500 |
80,800 |
0.4% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
6,200 |
5,100 |
5,200 |
2.0% |
-16.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.2 |
5.9 |
6.0 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
161,100 |
158,700 |
161,900 |
2.0% |
0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
152,400 |
151,800 |
154,800 |
2.0% |
1.6% |
|
Unemployment |
8,800 |
7,000 |
7,000 |
0.0% |
-20.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.4 |
4.4 |
4.3 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Jul-17 |
Jun-18 |
Jul-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,942 |
4,954 |
4,950 |
-0.1% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
4,674 |
4,741 |
4,711 |
-0.6% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
268 |
213 |
239 |
12.2% |
-10.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE JULY 2018 |
||||||
|
1 |
Mackinac County |
3.1 |
43 |
Marquette County |
5.2 |
|
|
2 |
Ottawa County |
3.4 |
44 |
Kalkaska County |
5.3 |
|
|
3 |
Grand Traverse County |
3.5 |
45 |
Huron County |
5.4 |
|
|
4 |
Kent County |
3.6 |
46 |
Manistee County |
5.4 |
|
|
5 |
Livingston County |
3.6 |
47 |
Otsego County |
5.4 |
|
|
6 |
Clinton County |
3.7 |
48 |
Lenawee County |
5.4 |
|
|
7 |
Leelanau County |
3.7 |
49 |
St. Joseph County |
5.4 |
|
|
8 |
Allegan County |
3.7 |
50 |
Bay County |
5.4 |
|
|
9 |
Barry County |
3.9 |
51 |
Muskegon County |
5.4 |
|
|
10 |
Oakland County |
3.9 |
52 |
Luce County |
5.5 |
|
|
11 |
Dickinson County |
4.0 |
53 |
Gogebic County |
5.5 |
|
|
12 |
Washtenaw County |
4.0 |
54 |
Alpena County |
5.5 |
|
|
13 |
Cheboygan County |
4.2 |
55 |
Lapeer County |
5.6 |
|
|
14 |
Kalamazoo County |
4.2 |
56 |
Oceana County |
5.6 |
|
|
15 |
Charlevoix County |
4.3 |
57 |
Gratiot County |
5.6 |
|
|
16 |
Ionia County |
4.3 |
58 |
Delta County |
5.6 |
|
|
17 |
Eaton County |
4.4 |
59 |
Gladwin County |
5.8 |
|
|
18 |
Midland County |
4.4 |
60 |
Saginaw County |
5.8 |
|
|
19 |
Menominee County |
4.6 |
61 |
Houghton County |
5.9 |
|
|
20 |
Mason County |
4.6 |
62 |
Sanilac County |
5.9 |
|
|
21 |
Emmet County |
4.7 |
63 |
Crawford County |
6.0 |
|
|
22 |
Ingham County |
4.7 |
64 |
Mecosta County |
6.1 |
|
|
23 |
Macomb County |
4.7 |
65 |
Alcona County |
6.2 |
|
|
24 |
Cass County |
4.7 |
66 |
Clare County |
6.2 |
|
|
25 |
Branch County |
4.7 |
67 |
Genesee County |
6.2 |
|
|
26 |
Isabella County |
4.7 |
68 |
Schoolcraft County |
6.3 |
|
|
27 |
Jackson County |
4.7 |
69 |
Chippewa County |
6.3 |
|
|
28 |
Benzie County |
4.8 |
70 |
Tuscola County |
6.4 |
|
|
29 |
Newaygo County |
4.8 |
71 |
Wayne County |
6.4 |
|
|
30 |
Shiawassee County |
4.8 |
72 |
Alger County |
6.5 |
|
|
31 |
Calhoun County |
4.8 |
73 |
Baraga County |
6.5 |
|
|
32 |
Berrien County |
4.8 |
74 |
Iosco County |
6.5 |
|
|
33 |
Antrim County |
4.9 |
75 |
Keweenaw County |
6.5 |
|
|
34 |
Montcalm County |
4.9 |
76 |
Ogemaw County |
6.7 |
|
|
35 |
Hillsdale County |
4.9 |
77 |
Lake County |
6.8 |
|
|
36 |
Monroe County |
4.9 |
78 |
Arenac County |
6.9 |
|
|
37 |
Iron County |
5.0 |
79 |
Roscommon County |
7.2 |
|
|
38 |
Osceola County |
5.0 |
80 |
Ontonagon County |
7.3 |
|
|
39 |
Missaukee County |
5.1 |
81 |
Presque Isle County |
7.3 |
|
|
40 |
St. Clair County |
5.1 |
82 |
Oscoda County |
7.4 |
|
|
41 |
Van Buren County |
5.1 |
83 |
Montmorency County |
8.1 |
|
|
42 |
Wexford County |
5.1 |
||||
