Michigan unemployment rate falls between September and November

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point between September and November, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Employment receded by 6,000 between September and November and the number of unemployed people fell by 7,000, resulting in a workforce decline of 13,000 during this period.

“Although the state lacked several key labor metrics for October, data for the two-month period from September to November revealed continued trends of a declining unemployment rate and total labor force,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll job growth was marginal in November and showed little net change since April.”

Labor force trends and highlights

• Michigan’s labor force dropped by 13,000 workers between September and November and has fallen by 58,000, or 1.1 percent, since March 2025.
• The total number of unemployed people in the state fell by 2.7 percent between September and November, whereas the national unemployment level rose by 3.0 percent during the same period.
• Total employment in the state decreased by 0.6 percent over the year, while the national employment level advanced by 1.6 percent since November 2024.
• The statewide labor force participation rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point between September and November to 61.1 percent. Michigan’s employment-population ratio receded by one-tenth of a percentage point during the same period to 58.1 percent.

Detroit region unemployment rate advances between September and November

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage points between September and November to 4.7 percent. Employment fell by 12,000, and total unemployment edged up by 1,000. The Detroit metro area labor force fell by 12,000 between September and November.  

Over the year, the Detroit metro area jobless rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points.  The region’s labor force was nearly unchanged, edging down by 1,000 since November 2024.  

Michigan nonfarm payroll jobs increase during November

According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 3,000 in November, resulting in a job total of 4,539,000.

Industry employment trends and highlights

• Statewide total nonfarm jobs advanced for the fifth consecutive month during November.
• Monthly job gains were led by trade, transportation, and utilities and private education and health services, with employment increasing by 2,000 in each industry.
• Seasonally adjusted payroll jobs rose by 40,000, or 0.9 percent, since November 2024.
• Industries with the most pronounced over-the-year numerical job gains included private education and health services (+12,000), government (+11,000), and construction (+10,000).

For more detailed information, including data tables, view the full release.