September 27, 2018
Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in August fell seasonally in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment declined in most areas over the month while workforce levels decreased in all regions.
“The August jobless rate reductions throughout the state’s local regions primarily reflected a drop in the number of unemployed individuals actively seeking jobs following the July peak in summer and seasonal employment,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Unemployment rate declines over the year mainly reflected the ongoing improvement in Michigan’s labor market.”
During August, jobless rate drops ranged from 0.4 to 1.9 percentage points with a substantial median reduction of 1.1 percentage points. The largest over-the-month unemployment rate declines were displayed in the Flint (-1.9) and Saginaw (-1.6) Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The Bay and Lansing-East Lansing MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region posted the next largest decrease of 1.4 percentage points. In August, regional unemployment rates in Michigan ranged from 2.7 to 4.7 percent. The August Michigan non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 3.8 percent, while the national unadjusted rate was 3.9 percent. Nine of Michigan’s 17 regional labor markets reported August unemployment rates below the U.S. rate.
Unemployment Rates Down Over Year
Since August 2017, unemployment rates declined in all 17 state regions. Over-the-year jobless rate reductions ranged from 0.9 to 2.0 percentage points with a significant median drop of 1.7 percentage points. The most pronounced decreases of two full percentage points since August 2017 occurred in the Bay and Muskegon MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region.
Total Employment Down Over Month, Up Over Year
From July to August, total employment levels declined in 12 areas. Reductions were wide-ranging; however, the 12 areas registered a moderate median decrease of only 0.5 percent. The largest percentage declines were recorded in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-2.0%) and the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.2%) as employment subsided somewhat in the north from the summer peak in July. Employment edged up over the month in the Flint MSA (+0.1%), while August employment levels were essentially unchanged in the Battle Creek, Bay, Midland and Saginaw MSAs.
Since August 2017, total employment advanced in 13 regions, declined slightly in two areas and was stable in both the Flint and Jackson MSAs. The largest over-the-year percentage gains were posted in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+1.7%), Lansing-East Lansing (+1.6%) and Monroe (+1.5%) MSAs. Very minor employment decreases of 0.3 percent were recorded in both the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn and Niles-Benton Harbor MSAs since August 2017.
Labor Force Levels Down Over Month, Year
In August, workforce levels decreased seasonally in all of the state’s 17 major regions. Reductions ranged from 0.9 to 3.0 percent with a 1.6 percent median decline. The largest area decreases were registered in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-3.0%), the Northeast Lower Michigan region
(-2.6%) and the Muskegon MSA (-2.4%).
Since August 2017, labor force levels fell in 15 regions and rose slightly in the Monroe (+0.4%) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+0.3%) MSAs. Over-the-year workforce reductions ranged from 0.2 to 1.9 percent with the largest drops recorded in the Battle Creek, Flint and Niles-Benton Harbor MSAs.
August Payroll Jobs Up Slightly
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan edged up by 6,000 in August to 4,428,000. August job gains in Manufacturing (+6,000), Construction (+3,000) and Trade, transportation and utilities (+2,000) were somewhat offset by a 3,000-job reduction in Leisure and hospitality services. The state’s remaining industry sectors were little changed in August.
The gain in Manufacturing jobs reflected recall activity from the July vacation shutdown/retooling period in the state’s auto industry, while the job reduction in Leisure and hospitality services was also seasonal as the state’s summer tourism season began to wind down.
In August, payroll jobs increased moderately in nine regions and declined slightly in the remaining five. Increases ranged from 0.1 to 0.8 percent with a median gain of 0.5 percent. The most notable August job advances were recorded in the Flint (+0.8%), Battle Creek (+0.8%), Bay (+0.6%) and Saginaw (+0.6%) metro regions. Over-the-month area job reductions were limited to 0.2 percent or less.
Since August 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose in 12 of the 14 state metropolitan regions. Area job gains ranged from 0.3 to 2.2 percent with a median increase of 0.9 percent. The largest percentage job advances over this period were shown in the Monroe (+2.4%), Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.2%) and Lansing-East Lansing (+1.9%) MSAs. Payroll jobs were down slightly over the year in the Jackson (-0.3%) and Flint (-0.1%) metro areas.
County Jobless Rates Down Over Month, Year
All of Michigan’s 83 counties reported jobless rate reductions both over the month as well as over the year. Unemployment rate declines from July to August ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 percentage points with a median decrease of 1.2 percentage points. Since August 2017, jobless rates in the 83 counties registered a significant median drop of 1.7 percentage points.
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 August workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for August.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
192,500 |
194,600 |
191,900 |
-1.4% |
-0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
184,300 |
186,800 |
186,000 |
-0.4% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
8,200 |
7,800 |
5,800 |
-25.6% |
-29.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.3 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Calhoun County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
64,100 |
63,700 |
62,900 |
-1.3% |
-1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
60,500 |
60,600 |
60,600 |
0.0% |
0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
3,500 |
3,100 |
2,400 |
-22.6% |
-31.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.5 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
BAY CITY MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Bay County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
51,100 |
51,200 |
50,400 |
-1.6% |
-1.4% |
|
Total Employment |
48,100 |
48,400 |
48,400 |
0.0% |
0.6% |
|
Unemployment |
3,100 |
2,700 |
2,000 |
-25.9% |
-35.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.0 |
5.4 |
4.0 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Data in thousands) |
|||||
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, |
|||||
|
Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,141 |
2,137 |
2,115 |
-1.0% |
-1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
2,032 |
2,029 |
2,026 |
-0.1% |
-0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
109 |
108 |
89 |
-17.6% |
-18.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.1 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
FLINT MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Genesee County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
184,900 |
184,800 |
181,300 |
-1.9% |
-1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
173,500 |
173,300 |
173,500 |
0.1% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
11,300 |
11,500 |
7,900 |
-31.3% |
-30.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
6.2 |
4.3 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
573,400 |
585,500 |
575,300 |
-1.7% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
550,000 |
564,400 |
559,600 |
-0.9% |
1.7% |
|
Unemployment |
23,400 |
21,200 |
15,700 |
-25.9% |
-32.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.1 |
3.6 |
2.7 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
JACKSON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Jackson County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,400 |
74,100 |
73,100 |
-1.3% |
-1.7% |
|
Total Employment |
70,500 |
70,600 |
70,500 |
-0.1% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
3,900 |
3,500 |
2,600 |
-25.7% |
-33.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.2 |
4.7 |
3.6 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
167,500 |
169,000 |
166,300 |
-1.6% |
-0.7% |
|
Total Employment |
159,100 |
161,600 |
160,700 |
-0.6% |
1.0% |
|
Unemployment |
8,400 |
7,400 |
5,500 |
-25.7% |
-34.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.4 |
3.3 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
243,900 |
247,700 |
243,300 |
-1.8% |
-0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
231,800 |
236,600 |
235,600 |
-0.4% |
1.6% |
|
Unemployment |
12,100 |
11,000 |
7,700 |
-30.0% |
-36.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.9 |
4.5 |
3.1 |
||
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MIDLAND MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Midland County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,800 |
40,800 |
40,300 |
-1.2% |
-1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
38,800 |
38,900 |
38,900 |
0.0% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
2,000 |
1,800 |
1,400 |
-22.2% |
-30.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.4 |
3.4 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MONROE MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Monroe County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
76,100 |
77,100 |
76,400 |
-0.9% |
0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
71,800 |
73,300 |
72,900 |
-0.5% |
1.5% |
|
Unemployment |
4,300 |
3,800 |
3,500 |
-7.9% |
-18.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.7 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Muskegon County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
79,400 |
79,900 |
78,000 |
-2.4% |
-1.8% |
|
Total Employment |
74,600 |
75,500 |
74,900 |
-0.8% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
4,800 |
4,300 |
3,200 |
-25.6% |
-33.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
5.4 |
4.1 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Berrien County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
75,000 |
75,300 |
73,600 |
-2.3% |
-1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
71,000 |
71,600 |
70,800 |
-1.1% |
-0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
4,000 |
3,600 |
2,800 |
-22.2% |
-30.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.3 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
SAGINAW MSA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Saginaw County) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
87,800 |
88,100 |
86,700 |
-1.6% |
-1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
82,600 |
83,100 |
83,100 |
0.0% |
0.6% |
|
Unemployment |
5,200 |
5,100 |
3,600 |
-29.4% |
-30.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.9 |
5.8 |
4.2 |
||
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
month |
year |
|||
|
(15 counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
139,700 |
139,500 |
137,300 |
-1.6% |
-1.7% |
|
Total Employment |
131,400 |
132,100 |
131,600 |
-0.4% |
0.2% |
|
Unemployment |
8,400 |
7,500 |
5,700 |
-24.0% |
-32.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.0 |
5.3 |
4.1 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, |
|||||
|
Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, |
|||||
|
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
85,100 |
85,900 |
83,700 |
-2.6% |
-1.6% |
|
Total Employment |
79,400 |
80,700 |
79,700 |
-1.2% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
5,700 |
5,200 |
3,900 |
-25.0% |
-31.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.7 |
6.1 |
4.7 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
month |
year |
|||
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, |
|||||
|
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, |
|||||
|
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|||||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
157,700 |
161,700 |
156,900 |
-3.0% |
-0.5% |
|
Total Employment |
149,800 |
154,700 |
151,600 |
-2.0% |
1.2% |
|
Unemployment |
7,900 |
7,000 |
5,300 |
-24.3% |
-32.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.3 |
3.4 |
||
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634 |
|||||
|
Aug-17 |
Jul-18 |
Aug-18 |
% change |
% change |
|
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
month |
year |
|||
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,925 |
4,950 |
4,875 |
-1.5% |
-1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
4,674 |
4,711 |
4,689 |
-0.5% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
251 |
239 |
186 |
-22.2% |
-25.9% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.1 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
||
|
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095 |
|||||
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AUGUST 2018 |
|||||||
|
1 |
Mackinac County |
2.6 |
43 |
Kalkaska County |
4.0 |
||
|
2 |
Ottawa County |
2.6 |
44 |
Van Buren County |
4.0 |
||
|
3 |
Grand Traverse County |
2.7 |
45 |
Gratiot County |
4.0 |
||
|
4 |
Kent County |
2.7 |
46 |
Bay County |
4.0 |
||
|
5 |
Clinton County |
2.8 |
47 |
Missaukee County |
4.1 |
||
|
6 |
Allegan County |
2.8 |
48 |
Muskegon County |
4.1 |
||
|
7 |
Barry County |
3.0 |
49 |
Otsego County |
4.2 |
||
|
8 |
Eaton County |
3.0 |
50 |
Mecosta County |
4.2 |
||
|
9 |
Leelanau County |
3.0 |
51 |
Saginaw County |
4.2 |
||
|
10 |
Livingston County |
3.0 |
52 |
Houghton County |
4.3 |
||
|
11 |
Ionia County |
3.0 |
53 |
Lapeer County |
4.3 |
||
|
12 |
Washtenaw County |
3.0 |
54 |
Oceana County |
4.3 |
||
|
13 |
Kalamazoo County |
3.2 |
55 |
St. Clair County |
4.3 |
||
|
14 |
Dickinson County |
3.2 |
56 |
Sanilac County |
4.3 |
||
|
15 |
Charlevoix County |
3.3 |
57 |
Delta County |
4.3 |
||
|
16 |
Cheboygan County |
3.3 |
58 |
Genesee County |
4.3 |
||
|
17 |
Ingham County |
3.3 |
59 |
Manistee County |
4.4 |
||
|
18 |
Oakland County |
3.3 |
60 |
Gogebic County |
4.4 |
||
|
19 |
Branch County |
3.4 |
61 |
Gladwin County |
4.5 |
||
|
20 |
Isabella County |
3.4 |
62 |
Luce County |
4.5 |
||
|
21 |
Midland County |
3.4 |
63 |
Monroe County |
4.5 |
||
|
22 |
Hillsdale County |
3.5 |
64 |
Crawford County |
4.6 |
||
|
23 |
St. Joseph County |
3.5 |
65 |
Alpena County |
4.6 |
||
|
24 |
Emmet County |
3.6 |
66 |
Baraga County |
4.7 |
||
|
25 |
Osceola County |
3.6 |
67 |
Clare County |
4.7 |
||
|
26 |
Mason County |
3.6 |
68 |
Tuscola County |
4.7 |
||
|
27 |
Jackson County |
3.6 |
69 |
Iosco County |
4.8 |
||
|
28 |
Montcalm County |
3.7 |
70 |
Oscoda County |
4.8 |
||
|
29 |
Newaygo County |
3.7 |
71 |
Chippewa County |
4.9 |
||
|
30 |
Menominee County |
3.7 |
72 |
Keweenaw County |
5.0 |
||
|
31 |
Antrim County |
3.8 |
73 |
Alcona County |
5.1 |
||
|
32 |
Benzie County |
3.8 |
74 |
Alger County |
5.1 |
||
|
33 |
Wexford County |
3.8 |
75 |
Arenac County |
5.1 |
||
|
34 |
Cass county |
3.8 |
76 |
Lake County |
5.1 |
||
|
35 |
Lenawee County |
3.8 |
77 |
Ogemaw County |
5.2 |
||
|
36 |
Shiawassee County |
3.8 |
78 |
Schoolcraft County |
5.2 |
||
|
37 |
Calhoun County |
3.8 |
79 |
Presque Isle County |
5.3 |
||
|
38 |
Berrien County |
3.8 |
80 |
Wayne County |
5.3 |
||
|
39 |
Huron County |
3.9 |
81 |
Roscommon County |
5.8 |
||
|
40 |
Iron County |
3.9 |
82 |
Montmorency County |
6.2 |
||
|
41 |
Macomb County |
3.9 |
83 |
Ontonagon County |
6.2 |
||
|
42 |
Marquette County |
3.9 |
|||||
