March 14, 2019
March 14, 2019
January seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates advanced in each of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
“Seasonal job reductions and temporary layoffs in the auto sector pushed up unemployment rates in Michigan regions in January,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives “However, jobless rates remain lower over the year throughout the state.”
January jobless rate gains throughout the state’s regional labor markets ranged from 0.1 to 1.6 percentage points, with a median upturn of half a percentage point. The most pronounced January rate movements were recorded in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+1.6), the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (+1.2), and the Saginaw MSA (+1.1). Michigan’s non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.6 percent was two-tenths above the national rate of 4.4 percent.
Jobless Rates Down Over Year
Since January 2018, regional jobless rates in Michigan declined in all 17 regions, with a median reduction of 0.6 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate decreases occurred in the Midland (-0.9) and Muskegon (-0.8) MSAs.
Total Employment Down Over Month, Up Over Year
Over the month, total employment dropped in 15 of the 17 state regions. Seasonal employment cuts ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 percent with a median decline of 1.0 percent. Notable over-the-month decreases occurred in the Midland (-1.5%), Ann Arbor (-1.4%) and Upper Peninsula (-1.4%) regions. Grand Rapids and Muskegon were the only two areas to exhibit increases in employment in January, with advances of 0.5 and 0.1 percent, respectively. Over the year, total employment moved up in 16 labor market areas. Increases ranged from 0.3 to 2.5 percent, with a notable median rise of 1.2 percent. The largest over-the-year employment gains occurred in the Detroit (+2.5%) and Grand Rapids (+2.4%) MSAs. Midland was the only Michigan region to exhibit no employment change since January 2018.
Labor Force Levels Mixed Over Month, Up Over Year
In January, workforce levels fell in eight areas, rose in seven areas, and remained unchanged in the Saginaw and Kalamazoo regions. The largest over-the-month labor force declines occurred in the Ann Arbor (-1.2%) and Midland (-1.0%) MSAs. Labor force advances were led by the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+0.9%), and the Grand Rapids MSA (+0.8%).
Over the year, labor force levels rose in 12 regions. Notable increases occurred in the Detroit (+2.0%) and Grand Rapids (+1.9%) metro areas. Workforce decreases over the year occurred in the Lansing (-0.4%) and Midland (-1.0%) regions. Bay City, Saginaw, and Upper Peninsula labor force levels all remained unchanged since January 2018.
Payroll Jobs Decline Seasonally in January, Up Over Year
Data from Michigan’s monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs fell by 84,000 over the month (-1.9%), to 4,363,000. The largest monthly job declines occurred in Trade, transportation, and utilities (-22,000), Government (-17,000) and Professional and business services (-12,000). Manufacturing jobs dropped in January due to temporary layoffs in the Transportation equipment manufacturing sector.
Payroll employment receded in all 14 of Michigan’s metro regions in January. The largest over-the-month percentage job declines were in the Ann Arbor (-2.7%) and Saginaw (-2.7%) metro areas.
Since January 2018, unadjusted Michigan nonfarm jobs advanced by 44,000, or 1.0 percent. Thirteen metro areas added jobs over the year, led on a percentage basis by Grand Rapids (+2.4%), Monroe (+2.2%), and Muskegon (+1.9%). The Lansing MSA exhibited no significant change in payroll jobs since January 2018.
County Jobless Rates Up Over Month, Down Over Year
Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded seasonal jobless rate increases in January, with a median advance of eight-tenths of a percentage point. Three regions exhibited rate declines over the month, while rates in Livingston and Oakland counties remained unchanged. Over the year, 77 counties exhibited jobless rate cuts, and four had rate increases.
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 January workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for January.
Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.”
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
ANN ARBOR MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Washtenaw County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
192,800 |
195,800 |
193,400 |
-1.2% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
186,300 |
190,400 |
187,700 |
-1.4% |
0.8% |
|
Unemployment |
6,500 |
5,400 |
5,700 |
5.6% |
-12.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.4 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
|
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-335-8341
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
BATTLE CREEK MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Calhoun County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
62,100 |
63,000 |
62,500 |
-0.8% |
0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
59,000 |
60,400 |
59,700 |
-1.2% |
1.2% |
|
Unemployment |
3,100 |
2,600 |
2,800 |
7.7% |
-9.7% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
|
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-841-5634
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
BAY CITY MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Bay County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
50,300 |
50,200 |
50,300 |
0.2% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
47,200 |
47,900 |
47,400 |
-1.0% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
3,200 |
2,300 |
2,900 |
26.1% |
-9.4% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.3 |
4.6 |
5.8 |
|
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-241-8272
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Data in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Livingston, St. Clair counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
2,102 |
2,140 |
2,143 |
0.1% |
2.0% |
|
Total Employment |
1,997 |
2,048 |
2,046 |
-0.1% |
2.5% |
|
Unemployment |
105 |
91 |
97 |
6.6% |
-7.6% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
|
|
Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst 313-456-3145
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
FLINT MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Genesee County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
181,200 |
181,900 |
182,300 |
0.2% |
0.6% |
|
Total Employment |
170,100 |
173,400 |
172,200 |
-0.7% |
1.2% |
|
Unemployment |
11,100 |
8,500 |
10,100 |
18.8% |
-9.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
4.7 |
5.5 |
|
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-241-8272
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
GRAND RAPIDS-WYOMING MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
572,200 |
578,400 |
582,800 |
0.8% |
1.9% |
|
Total Employment |
551,100 |
561,700 |
564,400 |
0.5% |
2.4% |
|
Unemployment |
21,100 |
16,800 |
18,400 |
9.5% |
-12.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
3.7 |
2.9 |
3.2 |
|
|
Contact: Nick Gandhi, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-335-3875
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
JACKSON MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Jackson County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
73,700 |
74,500 |
74,000 |
-0.7% |
0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
70,000 |
71,700 |
70,800 |
-1.3% |
1.1% |
|
Unemployment |
3,700 |
2,800 |
3,200 |
14.3% |
-13.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
|
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-841-5634
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
KALAMAZOO-PORTAGE MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Kalamazoo, Van Buren counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
166,800 |
168,300 |
168,300 |
0.0% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
159,100 |
162,100 |
161,600 |
-0.3% |
1.6% |
|
Unemployment |
7,700 |
6,200 |
6,700 |
8.1% |
-13.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.6 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
|
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-841-5634
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
LANSING-EAST LANSING MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Clinton, Eaton, Ingham counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
248,400 |
247,800 |
247,400 |
-0.2% |
-0.4% |
|
Total Employment |
236,800 |
239,800 |
237,400 |
-1.0% |
0.3% |
|
Unemployment |
11,600 |
8,000 |
10,000 |
25.0% |
-13.8% |
|
Rate (percent) |
4.7 |
3.2 |
4.1 |
|
|
Contact: Marcus Reason, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-335-8341
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
MIDLAND MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Midland County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
40,300 |
40,300 |
39,900 |
-1.0% |
-1.0% |
|
Total Employment |
38,200 |
38,800 |
38,200 |
-1.5% |
0.0% |
|
Unemployment |
2,100 |
1,500 |
1,700 |
13.3% |
-19.0% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.2 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
|
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-241-8272
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
MONROE MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Monroe County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
74,900 |
75,800 |
75,600 |
-0.3% |
0.9% |
|
Total Employment |
71,100 |
72,700 |
72,200 |
-0.7% |
1.5% |
|
Unemployment |
3,700 |
3,100 |
3,400 |
9.7% |
-8.1% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.0 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
|
|
Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst 313-456-3145
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
MUSKEGON MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Muskegon County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
77,100 |
77,700 |
78,100 |
0.5% |
1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
72,900 |
74,300 |
74,400 |
0.1% |
2.1% |
|
Unemployment |
4,200 |
3,400 |
3,600 |
5.9% |
-14.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.5 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
|
|
Contact: Nick Gandhi, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-335-3875
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
NILES-BENTON HARBOR MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Berrien County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
71,700 |
72,300 |
71,900 |
-0.6% |
0.3% |
|
Total Employment |
67,800 |
69,200 |
68,400 |
-1.2% |
0.9% |
|
Unemployment |
3,900 |
3,200 |
3,500 |
9.4% |
-10.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.4 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
|
|
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-841-5634
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
SAGINAW MSA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Saginaw County) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
86,900 |
86,900 |
86,900 |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
81,600 |
82,900 |
81,900 |
-1.2% |
0.4% |
|
Unemployment |
5,300 |
4,000 |
4,900 |
22.5% |
-7.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.1 |
4.6 |
5.7 |
|
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-241-8272
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
UPPER PENINSULA LMA |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(15 counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
134,800 |
135,500 |
134,800 |
-0.5% |
0.0% |
|
Total Employment |
125,000 |
127,400 |
125,600 |
-1.4% |
0.5% |
|
Unemployment |
9,700 |
8,000 |
9,200 |
15.0% |
-5.2% |
|
Rate (percent) |
7.2 |
5.9 |
6.8 |
|
|
Contact: Jeffrey Aula, DTMB Economic Analyst 313-456-3144
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
80,800 |
80,300 |
81,000 |
0.9% |
0.2% |
|
Total Employment |
72,700 |
74,200 |
73,600 |
-0.8% |
1.2% |
|
Unemployment |
8,000 |
6,100 |
7,400 |
21.3% |
-7.5% |
|
Rate (percent) |
9.9 |
7.6 |
9.2 |
|
|
Contact: Evan Linskey, DTMB Economic Analyst 517-241-8272
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civilian Labor Force |
144,900 |
146,400 |
146,600 |
0.1% |
1.2% |
|
Total Employment |
135,300 |
138,900 |
137,800 |
-0.8% |
1.8% |
|
Unemployment |
9,600 |
7,500 |
8,800 |
17.3% |
-8.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
6.7 |
5.1 |
6.0 |
|
|
Contact: Nick Gandhi, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst 517-335-3875
|
|
Jan-18 |
Dec-18 |
Jan-19 |
% change |
% change |
|
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands) |
|
|
|
month |
year |
|
Civilian Labor Force |
4,842 |
4,897 |
4,904 |
0.1% |
1.3% |
|
Total Employment |
4,595 |
4,695 |
4,680 |
-0.3% |
1.8% |
|
Unemployment |
247 |
201 |
224 |
11.4% |
-9.3% |
|
Rate (percent) |
5.1 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
|
|
Contact: Shibani Putatunda, DTMB Economic Analyst 313-456-3145
|
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE JANUARY 2019 |
|||||||
|
1 |
Ottawa County |
2.9 |
|
43 |
Huron County |
5.8 |
|
|
2 |
Washtenaw County |
2.9 |
|
44 |
Van Buren County |
5.8 |
|
|
3 |
Kent County |
3.1 |
|
45 |
Gogebic County |
5.8 |
|
|
4 |
Livingston County |
3.3 |
|
46 |
Bay County |
5.8 |
|
|
5 |
Oakland County |
3.3 |
|
47 |
Marquette County |
5.9 |
|
|
6 |
Kalamazoo County |
3.5 |
|
48 |
Alpena County |
6.0 |
|
|
7 |
Clinton County |
3.7 |
|
49 |
Charlevoix County |
6.2 |
|
|
8 |
Allegan County |
3.7 |
|
50 |
Lapeer County |
6.3 |
|
|
9 |
Barry County |
3.8 |
|
51 |
Missaukee County |
6.4 |
|
|
10 |
Ingham County |
4.1 |
|
52 |
Delta County |
6.4 |
|
|
11 |
Ionia County |
4.1 |
|
53 |
Mason County |
6.5 |
|
|
12 |
Eaton County |
4.2 |
|
54 |
Sanilac County |
6.6 |
|
|
13 |
Branch County |
4.2 |
|
55 |
Tuscola County |
6.7 |
|
|
14 |
Isabella County |
4.2 |
|
56 |
Gladwin County |
6.8 |
|
|
15 |
Jackson County |
4.3 |
|
57 |
Iron County |
6.9 |
|
|
16 |
Midland County |
4.3 |
|
58 |
Antrim County |
7.0 |
|
|
17 |
Lenawee County |
4.4 |
|
59 |
Crawford County |
7.0 |
|
|
18 |
Calhoun County |
4.4 |
|
60 |
Baraga County |
7.1 |
|
|
19 |
Grand Traverse County |
4.5 |
|
61 |
Manistee County |
7.3 |
|
|
20 |
Dickinson County |
4.5 |
|
62 |
Benzie County |
7.4 |
|
|
21 |
Menominee County |
4.5 |
|
63 |
Luce County |
7.4 |
|
|
22 |
Hillsdale County |
4.5 |
|
64 |
Ontonagon County |
7.6 |
|
|
23 |
St. Joseph County |
4.5 |
|
65 |
Clare County |
7.8 |
|
|
24 |
Monroe County |
4.5 |
|
66 |
Kalkaska County |
7.8 |
|
|
25 |
Muskegon County |
4.7 |
|
67 |
Emmet County |
7.9 |
|
|
26 |
Cass County |
4.8 |
|
68 |
Lake County |
8.1 |
|
|
27 |
Berrien County |
4.8 |
|
69 |
Iosco County |
8.2 |
|
|
28 |
Macomb County |
4.9 |
|
70 |
Keweenaw County |
8.2 |
|
|
29 |
Montcalm County |
4.9 |
|
71 |
Oceana County |
8.5 |
|
|
30 |
Leelanau County |
5.2 |
|
72 |
Chippewa County |
8.5 |
|
|
31 |
Newaygo County |
5.2 |
|
73 |
Oscoda County |
8.7 |
|
|
32 |
Osceola County |
5.2 |
|
74 |
Alcona County |
8.9 |
|
|
33 |
Shiawassee County |
5.2 |
|
75 |
Arenac County |
8.9 |
|
|
34 |
Wayne County |
5.3 |
|
76 |
Ogemaw County |
9.2 |
|
|
35 |
Genesee County |
5.5 |
|
77 |
Schoolcraft County |
9.6 |
|
|
36 |
St. Clair County |
5.6 |
|
78 |
Alger County |
10.0 |
|
|
37 |
Mecosta County |
5.6 |
|
79 |
Roscommon County |
10.6 |
|
|
38 |
Otsego County |
5.7 |
|
80 |
Presque Isle County |
10.7 |
|
|
39 |
Wexford County |
5.7 |
|
81 |
Montmorency County |
11.0 |
|
|
40 |
Gratiot County |
5.7 |
|
82 |
Cheboygan County |
17.1 |
|
|
41 |
Saginaw County |
5.7 |
|
83 |
Mackinac County |
21.2 |
|
|
42 |
Houghton County |
5.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
Data Revisions:
The data in this release reflects recently revised historical estimates. All states in the nation participate in this revision process facilitated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Labor force estimates for Michigan counties have been revised for all months of 2018. Revised data will be released in coming weeks for 2014-2017.
In addition, unadjusted payroll job data for Michigan and all metro areas was revised for 2017 and 2018. Certain industries had more extensive data revisions, some back to 1990. For newly revised data go to www.milmi.org/datasearch or contact DTMB at 313-456-3090.
Previously published data for these years should be replaced with these new series.
Partial Federal Government Shutdown:
Some federal government agencies were shut down or operating at reduced staffing levels during a lapse in appropriations from December 22, 2018, through January 25, 2019. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was funded during the shutdown period and was operating as usual. Data collection for the household and establishment surveys occurred as scheduled.
In the household survey, individuals are classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force based on their answers to a series of questions about their activities during the survey reference week. For January, federal workers who indicated they were furloughed during the entire survey reference week and expected to be recalled to their jobs were classified as unemployed. Those federal workers who worked without pay were counted as employed in the household survey.
In the establishment survey, businesses and government agencies report the number of people on payrolls during the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Individuals who work or receive pay for any part of the pay period are defined as employed. In January, both federal employees on furlough and those working without pay during the partial federal government shutdown were considered employed in the establishment survey because they worked or will receive pay for the pay period that included the 12th of the month. Additional information is available at the link:
