November unemployment rate of 3.9% caps eight years of economic improvement and job creation as part of Michigan's comeback

Nearly 560,000 private-sector jobs created since 2010

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018

LANSING – Capping off eight years of job creation, today’s news that the statewide unemployment remained unchanged at 3.9 percent marks the last time a statewide unemployment rate will be released during Gov. Rick Snyder’s tenure. Nearly 560,000 private-sector payroll jobs have been created since the governor took office Jan. 1, 2011.

“I ran for governor eight years ago because I wanted to make a difference, I wanted a state where our kids didn’t have to leave to find work,” Snyder said. “I wanted to spur job creation, reinvent our state, and help make Michigan a place where families could build a successful life. I am proud of what has been accomplished and the unemployment rate being at its lowest rate in 18 years. Not only are kids staying in Michigan, we have families being reunited as more Michiganders have come home.”

From the time that Gov. Snyder took office, the Michigan unemployment rate has fallen 7.4 percentage points, from 11.3 percent to 3.9 percent. 

“When you look at how far we have come in the past eight years, the reinvention of Michigan is undeniable,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. “By working together to transform our state, we have seen more accomplished than anyone thought was possible, including this tremendous drop in unemployment and significant job growth.”

Major job gains over the past eight years have occurred in the following areas:

• Manufacturing (+143,000)
• Professional & business services (+121,000) with job gains in professional, scientific & technical services and in the temporary help sector
• Health care services (+65,000)
• Accommodation & food services (+60,000)
• Construction (+53,000)

Job losses over this period were concentrated in the government sector, with a reduction of 12,000 taxpayer-funded jobs.

More recent trends over the past year where significant job growth has occurred includes engineering services, transportation and warehousing, ambulatory health care services, construction and management of companies.

“Eight years ago, it was difficult to find a job in Michigan,” added Snyder. “Today, it’s difficult to fill the jobs we have. That’s a good problem to have and one that we are already on our way to solving. We just can’t allow ourselves to become content or complacent. We need to keep Michigan’s momentum going.”

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