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November Jobless Rates Little Changed in Michigan Regional Labor Market Areas

January 03, 2019

Lansing – November non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates receded in nine of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Jobless rates ranged from 2.5 to 5.6 percent, with eight areas exhibiting rates at or below the state rate of 3.6 percent. Four areas recorded a rate increase over the month, while the remaining four remained unchanged in November. 

“Michigan’s regional labor markets remained stable in November,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.  “Jobless rates recorded minimal changes of 0.3 percentage points or less in 13 of the state’s major labor market areas, while payroll jobs registered small percentage movements.” 

Labor force levels and total employment rose over the month in the majority of Michigan regions. Jobless rate declines ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 percentage points with a median drop of two-tenths of a percentage point. 

Unemployment Rates Down Over Year

Since November 2017, jobless rates fell in all regions, with declines ranging from 0.1 to 1.3 percentage points and a median drop of 1.0 percentage point. The most pronounced over-the-year rate reduction occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with a drop of 1.3 percentage points. The Detroit Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) exhibited the smallest over-the-year rate change, edging down by a tenth of a percentage point since November 2017.

Total Employment Up Over Month, Year

Since October, total employment rose in 12 regions with a median advance of 0.5 percent. The largest over-the-month percent increases occurred in the Saginaw (+1.0%), Battle Creek (+0.8%), and Muskegon (+0.8%) MSAs. Four labor market areas exhibited employment declines over the month. The most pronounced reduction occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with a seasonal employment drop of 2.1 percent in November. Midland’s employment level remained unchanged over the month.

Total employment advanced in 14 Michigan labor market areas over the year with a median increase of 0.8 percent. The most notable over-the-year employment gains were seen in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming (+2.1%), Lansing (+1.5%) and Saginaw (+1.4%) metro regions. Jackson was the only region with a decline in total employment over the year, receding by 0.6 percent.

Labor Force Levels Up Over Month, Down Over Year

Between October and November, workforce levels advanced in 12 Michigan labor market areas with a median increase of 0.5 percent. The largest over-the-month labor force gains were seen in the Saginaw (+0.9%), Battle Creek (+0.8%) and Lansing (+0.8%) MSAs. Four regions showed seasonal declines over the month, including the Upper Peninsula (-1.4%), Northwest Lower (-1.3%), Northeast Lower (-1.2%) labor market areas, and the Detroit MSA (-1.1%). 

Ten labor market areas demonstrated workforce reductions over the year. The most pronounced decrease occurred in the Jackson metro area, with a workforce reduction of 1.6 percent. Six Michigan regions exhibited labor force advances over the year. The largest increase occurred in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA, up by 1.2 percent since November 2017.

November Nonfarm Jobs Little Changed

Seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan edged down slightly by 2,000 over the month. The statewide job total for November was 4,484,000. Seasonal job gains in Trade, transportation and utilities (+13,000) were offset by seasonal job losses in Leisure and hospitality (-16,000). Retail trade jobs advanced by 11,000 as hiring for the holiday shopping season continued.  

In November, payroll jobs were little changed in Michigan’s 14 metro regions, with nonfarm employment increasing slightly in ten areas and declining minimally in four. All monthly job gains or losses were less than one percent.  The largest percentage job additions occurred in the Saginaw (+0.7%) and Bay City (+0.6%) MSAs. Job reductions occurred in the Midland (-0.5%) Jackson (-0.2%) Monroe (-0.2%) and Kalamazoo (-0.1%) regions.  

Since November 2017, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 50,000, or 1.1 percent. 11 metro regions reported job gains over the year, led by Grand Rapids-Wyoming with a total advance of 2.5 percent. Nonfarm employment receded in the Jackson (-1.0%) Muskegon (-0.6%) and Bay City (-0.1%) regions.

County Jobless Rates Mixed Over Month, Down Over Year

40 of Michigan’s 83 counties registered unemployment rate increases over the month, with a median advancement of 0.5 percentage points. Twenty-five counties showed rate reductions in November, while 18 counties remained unchanged.  Since November 2017, 81 counties recorded rate reductions, averaging a drop of 1.0 percentage point. The rate in St. Joseph County edged up by two-tenths of a percentage point, while Livingston County remained unchanged over the year.  

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 November workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for November.

Note to Editors:  Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”  

 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

ANN ARBOR MSA

      

month

year

 

(Washtenaw County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

196,800

197,200

197,400

0.1%

0.3%

 

Total Employment

190,400

191,400

192,200

0.4%

0.9%

 

Unemployment

6,400

5,800

5,200

-10.3%

-18.8%

 

Rate (percent)

3.3

2.9

2.6

    

 
           

 

Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

BATTLE CREEK MSA

      

month

year

 

(Calhoun County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

63,500

62,900

63,400

0.8%

-0.2%

 

Total Employment

60,600

60,700

61,200

0.8%

1.0%

 

Unemployment

2,900

2,300

2,200

-4.3%

-24.1%

 

Rate (percent)

4.5

3.6

3.5

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

BAY CITY MSA

      

month

year

 

(Bay County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

50,900

50,300

50,500

0.4%

-0.8%

 

Total Employment

48,600

48,400

48,600

0.4%

0.0%

 

Unemployment

2,400

1,900

1,900

0.0%

-20.8%

 

Rate (percent)

4.6

3.7

3.7

    

 
           

 

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

    

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA

      

month

year

 

(Data in thousands)

          

 

(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer,

          

 

Livingston, St. Clair counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

2,113

2,137

2,114

-1.1%

0.0%

 

Total Employment

2,031

2,044

2,033

-0.5%

0.1%

 

Unemployment

82

93

81

-12.9%

-1.2%

 

Rate (percent)

3.9

4.4

3.8

    

 
           

 

Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3145

    

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

FLINT MSA

      

month

year

 

(Genesee County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

182,900

181,100

181,900

0.4%

-0.5%

 

Total Employment

173,500

173,600

174,500

0.5%

0.6%

 

Unemployment

9,400

7,500

7,400

-1.3%

-21.3%

 

Rate (percent)

5.1

4.1

4.1

    

 

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA

      

month

year

 

(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

574,200

578,300

581,300

0.5%

1.2%

 

Total Employment

555,100

563,100

566,700

0.6%

2.1%

 

Unemployment

19,100

15,300

14,600

-4.6%

-23.6%

 

Rate (percent)

3.3

2.6

2.5

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

JACKSON MSA

      

month

year

 

(Jackson County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

74,800

73,400

73,600

0.3%

-1.6%

 

Total Employment

71,600

70,900

71,200

0.4%

-0.6%

 

Unemployment

3,100

2,500

2,500

0.0%

-19.4%

 

Rate (percent)

4.2

3.4

3.3

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA

      

month

year

 

(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

168,700

167,800

168,200

0.2%

-0.3%

 

Total Employment

161,900

162,500

162,900

0.2%

0.6%

 

Unemployment

6,800

5,300

5,200

-1.9%

-23.5%

 

Rate (percent)

4.1

3.2

3.1

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA

      

month

year

 

(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

252,000

252,100

254,100

0.8%

0.8%

 

Total Employment

242,500

244,600

246,100

0.6%

1.5%

 

Unemployment

9,400

7,500

8,000

6.7%

-14.9%

 

Rate (percent)

3.7

3.0

3.1

    

 
           

 

Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 335-8341

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

MIDLAND MSA

      

month

year

 

(Midland County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

40,200

39,900

39,900

0.0%

-0.7%

 

Total Employment

38,500

38,600

38,600

0.0%

0.3%

 

Unemployment

1,700

1,300

1,300

0.0%

-23.5%

 

Rate (percent)

4.2

3.3

3.2

    

 
           

 

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

MONROE MSA

      

month

year

 

(Monroe County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

76,700

76,900

77,000

0.1%

0.4%

 

Total Employment

73,600

73,800

74,100

0.4%

0.7%

 

Unemployment

3,100

3,100

2,900

-6.5%

-6.5%

 

Rate (percent)

4.0

4.1

3.8

    

 
           

 

Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3145

    

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

MUSKEGON MSA

      

month

year

 

(Muskegon County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

78,000

76,700

77,100

0.5%

-1.2%

 

Total Employment

74,200

73,600

74,200

0.8%

0.0%

 

Unemployment

3,900

3,000

2,900

-3.3%

-25.6%

 

Rate (percent)

5.0

4.0

3.8

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA

      

month

year

 

(Berrien County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

73,000

72,700

73,100

0.6%

0.1%

 

Total Employment

69,600

70,100

70,400

0.4%

1.1%

 

Unemployment

3,300

2,600

2,600

0.0%

-21.2%

 

Rate (percent)

4.6

3.6

3.6

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 

 

 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

SAGINAW MSA

      

month

year

 

(Saginaw County)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

87,800

87,300

88,100

0.9%

0.3%

 

Total Employment

83,500

83,900

84,700

1.0%

1.4%

 

Unemployment

4,300

3,400

3,400

0.0%

-20.9%

 

Rate (percent)

4.9

3.9

3.9

    

 
           

 

Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 241-8272

    

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

UPPER PENINSULA LMA

      

month

year

 

(15 counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

137,100

137,900

136,000

-1.4%

-0.8%

 

Total Employment

129,500

132,600

130,100

-1.9%

0.5%

 

Unemployment

7,600

5,300

5,900

11.3%

-22.4%

 

Rate (percent)

5.5

3.8

4.4

    

 
           

 

Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3145

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN

      

month

year

 

(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford,

          

 

Iosco, Montmorency,Ogemaw, Oscoda, 

          

 

Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties)

        

 

Civilian Labor Force

81,400

81,500

80,500

-1.2%

-1.1%

 

Total Employment

75,800

77,700

76,100

-2.1%

0.4%

 

Unemployment

5,600

3,700

4,500

21.6%

-19.6%

 

Rate (percent)

6.9

4.6

5.6

    

 
           

 

Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3145

    

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN

      

month

year

 

(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie,

          

 

Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau,

          

 

Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties)

          

 

Civilian Labor Force

147,300

149,000

147,100

-1.3%

-0.1%

 

Total Employment

140,200

143,900

141,500

-1.7%

0.9%

 

Unemployment

7,100

5,000

5,500

10.0%

-22.5%

 

Rate (percent)

4.8

3.4

3.8

    

 
           

 

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

 
           

 
 

Nov-17

Oct-18

Nov-18

% change

% change

 

MICHIGAN  (Data in thousands)

      

month

year

 

Civilian Labor Force

4,887

4,909

4,890

-0.4%

0.1%

 

Total Employment

4,687

4,724

4,716

-0.2%

0.6%

 

Unemployment

200

186

174

-6.5%

-13.0%

 

Rate (percent)

4.1

3.8

3.6

    

 
           

 

Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst (313) 456-3145

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE - NOVEMBER 2018
               

1

Ottawa County

2.4

  

43

Gratiot County

3.9

  

2

Kent County

2.5

  

44

Saginaw County

3.9

  

3

Washtenaw County

2.6

  

45

St. Joseph County

3.9

  

4

Allegan County

2.7

  

46

Alpena County

4.0

  

5

Barry County

2.7

  

47

Genesee County

4.1

  

6

Clinton County

2.8

  

48

Iron County

4.1

  

7

Grand Traverse County

2.9

  

49

St. Clair County

4.1

  

8

Ionia County

2.9

  

50

Tuscola County

4.1

  

9

Kalamazoo County

2.9

  

51

Delta County

4.2

  

10

Livingston County

2.9

  

52

Lapeer County

4.2

  

11

Oakland County

3.0

  

53

Mason County

4.2

  

12

Dickinson County

3.1

  

54

Benzie County

4.3

  

13

Isabella County

3.1

  

55

Gogebic County

4.3

  

14

Eaton County

3.2

  

56

Otsego County

4.4

  

15

Ingham County

3.2

  

57

Antrim County

4.6

  

16

Leelanau County

3.2

  

58

Baraga County

4.6

  

17

Lenawee County

3.2

  

59

Manistee County

4.6

  

18

Midland County

3.2

  

60

Wayne County

4.6

  

19

Branch County

3.3

  

61

Gladwin County

4.7

  

20

Hillsdale County

3.3

  

62

Kalkaska County

4.7

  

21

Jackson County

3.3

  

63

Oceana County

4.7

  

22

Newaygo County

3.3

  

64

Clare County

4.8

  

23

Huron County

3.4

  

65

Emmet County

4.9

  

24

Menominee County

3.4

  

66

Iosco County

4.9

  

25

Montcalm County

3.4

  

67

Lake County

4.9

  

26

Calhoun County

3.5

  

68

Chippewa County

5.1

  

27

Cass County

3.5

  

69

Crawford County

5.1

  

28

Osceola County

3.5

  

70

Arenac County

5.2

  

29

Shiawassee County

3.5

  

71

Schoolcraft County

5.3

  

30

Berrien County

3.6

  

72

Ogemaw County

5.4

  

31

Bay County

3.7

  

73

Luce County

5.9

  

32

Charlevoix County

3.7

  

74

Presque Isle County

5.9

  

33

Macomb County

3.7

  

75

Alcona County

6.0

  

34

Marquette County

3.7

  

76

Oscoda County

6.1

  

35

Mecosta County

3.7

  

77

Roscommon County

6.1

  

36

Missaukee County

3.7

  

78

Ontonagon County

6.7

  

37

Sanilac County

3.7

  

79

Alger County

6.8

  

38

Van Buren County

3.7

  

80

Keweenaw County

6.9

  

39

Wexford County

3.7

  

81

Montmorency County

7.7

  

40

Houghton County

3.8

  

82

Cheboygan County

8.4

  

41

Monroe County

3.8

  

83

Mackinac County

9.8

  

42

Muskegon County

3.8

          

 

 
MI Newswire Press Release Department of Technology Management and Budget Regional Job Reports Department of Technology, Management and Budget

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