May 28, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell in all 18 Michigan labor market areas during April, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Prominent labor force reductions across the state contributed to regional jobless rate decreases during April” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll jobs rose in all metro areas over the month.”
Michigan regional unemployment rates ranged from 3.5 to 7.6 percent during April, with a median rate reduction of 0.5 percentage points. The largest rate reduction occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.1 percentage points).
Seventeen Michigan labor market areas exhibited jobless rate declines over the year, with a median rate decrease of 0.7 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate reduction occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-1.3 percentage points). The Detroit metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was the only region to demonstrate an unemployment rate gain since April 2025 (+0.4 percentage points).
Total employment down over month and year
Total employment was reduced in 16 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median decrease of 1.6 percent. The largest over-the-month employment decline occurred in the Ann Arbor MSA (-2.3 percent). Two regions exhibited employment increases in April, including the Northeast Lower Michigan region and the Detroit MSA.
Seventeen Michigan regions demonstrated employment reductions over the year, with a median decline of 6.0 percent. The largest over-the-year employment decrease occurred in the Midland MSA (-8.2 percent).
Regional workforce levels down over month and year
Regional labor force totals receded in all 18 Michigan labor market areas in April, with a median decrease of 2.0 percent. The largest labor force reduction occurred in the Bay City MSA (-2.7 percent).
Regional workforce levels fell in 17 regions over the year, with a median decline of 6.6 percent. The Midland metro area demonstrated the largest over-the-year labor force decrease of 8.5 percent.
Regional nonfarm employment increases in April
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted payroll jobs rose by 36,000, or 0.8 percent, during April. Employment gains occurred in most major statewide industries, led by leisure and hospitality (+10,000) and construction (+9,000).
Payroll jobs rose in all 15 Michigan metro areas over the month, with a median increase of 0.6 percent. The Jackson and Midland MSAs both demonstrated the largest gain in nonfarm jobs since March (+1.0 percent).
Michigan total nonfarm employment fell by 11,000, or 0.2 percent, over the year. Eight metro areas exhibited payroll job reductions over the year, led by the Midland MSA (-3.2 percent).
County unemployment rates down over month and year
Seventy-eight Michigan counties exhibited unemployment rate decreases during April, with a median reduction of 0.7 percentage points. Jobless rates fell in 77 Michigan counties 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.
Note to editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
Detailed data will be available for viewing and download with the MCDA Data Search tool by noon.
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Not Seasonally Adjusted
Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ann Arbor MSA (Washtenaw County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 194,600 | 199,600 | 209,000 | -5,000 (-2.5%) | -14,400 (-6.9%) |
| Employed | 187,800 | 192,200 | 200,800 | -4,400 (-2.3%) | -13,000 (-6.5%) |
| Unemployed | 6,800 | 7,400 | 8,200 | -600 (-8.1%) | -1,400 (-17.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.9% | -0.2 | -0.4 |
Battle Creek MSA (Calhoun County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 60,600 | 61,600 | 65,000 | -1,000 (-1.6%) | -4,400 (-6.8%) |
| Employed | 57,700 | 58,400 | 61,500 | -700 (-1.2%) | -3,800 (-6.2%) |
| Unemployed | 2,900 | 3,200 | 3,500 | -300 (-9.4%) | -600 (-17.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% | -0.5 | -0.7 |
Bay City MSA (Bay County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 47,000 | 48,300 | 50,500 | -1,300 (-2.7%) | -3,500 (-6.9%) |
| Employed | 44,400 | 45,300 | 47,300 | -900 (-2.0%) | -2,900 (-6.1%) |
| Unemployed | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,100 | -400 (-13.3%) | -500 (-16.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | -0.7 | -0.7 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Livingston, and St. Clair counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 2,174,000 | 2,179,000 | 2,149,000 | -5,000 (-0.2%) | 25,000 (1.2%) |
| Employed | 2,078,000 | 2,065,000 | 2,063,000 | 13,000 (0.6%) | 15,000 (0.7%) |
| Unemployed | 96,000 | 115,000 | 86,000 | -19,000 (-16.5%) | 10,000 (11.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 5.3% | 4.0% | -0.9 | 0.4 |
Flint MSA (Genesee County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 178,600 | 182,400 | 191,200 | -3,800 (-2.1%) | -12,600 (-6.6%) |
| Employed | 168,600 | 171,200 | 179,400 | -2,600 (-1.5%) | -10,800 (-6.0%) |
| Unemployed | 10,000 | 11,200 | 11,800 | -1,200 (-10.7%) | -1,800 (-15.3%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 6.1% | 6.2% | -0.5 | -0.6 |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming Kentwood MSA (Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 587,300 | 599,700 | 629,200 | -12,400 (-2.1%) | -41,900 (-6.7%) |
| Employed | 565,900 | 575,600 | 602,900 | -9,700 (-1.7%) | -37,000 (-6.1%) |
| Unemployed | 21,400 | 24,100 | 26,300 | -2,700 (-11.2%) | -4,900 (-18.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.0% | 4.2% | -0.4 | -0.6 |
Jackson MSA (Jackson County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 70,200 | 71,800 | 75,100 | -1,600 (-2.2%) | -4,900 (-6.5%) |
| Employed | 67,100 | 68,200 | 71,300 | -1,100 (-1.6%) | -4,200 (-5.9%) |
| Unemployed | 3,100 | 3,600 | 3,800 | -500 (-13.9%) | -700 (-18.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 5.0% | 5.0% | -0.6 | -0.6 |
Kalamazoo-Portage MSA (Kalamazoo County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 132,300 | 135,000 | 142,700 | -2,700 (-2.0%) | -10,400 (-7.3%) |
| Employed | 127,200 | 129,500 | 136,600 | -2,300 (-1.8%) | -9,400 (-6.9%) |
| Unemployed | 5,100 | 5,600 | 6,100 | -500 (-8.9%) | -1,000 (-16.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% | -0.2 | -0.4 |
Lansing-East Lansing MSA (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 239,400 | 245,100 | 261,100 | -5,700 (-2.3%) | -21,700 (-8.3%) |
| Employed | 230,100 | 234,500 | 249,600 | -4,400 (-1.9%) | -19,500 (-7.8%) |
| Unemployed | 9,300 | 10,600 | 11,500 | -1,300 (-12.3%) | -2,200 (-19.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% | -0.4 | -0.5 |
Midland MSA (Midland County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 39,700 | 40,500 | 43,400 | -800 (-2.0%) | -3,700 (-8.5%) |
| Employed | 37,900 | 38,400 | 41,300 | -500 (-1.3%) | -3,400 (-8.2%) |
| Unemployed | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,100 | -200 (-10.0%) | -300 (-14.3%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.8% | -0.6 | -0.3 |
Monroe MSA (Monroe County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 73,000 | 74,500 | 78,700 | -1,500 (-2.0%) | -5,700 (-7.2%) |
| Employed | 69,700 | 70,800 | 74,700 | -1,100 (-1.6%) | -5,000 (-6.7%) |
| Unemployed | 3,200 | 3,700 | 4,000 | -500 (-13.5%) | -800 (-20.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5.1% | -0.5 | -0.6 |
Muskegon-Norton Shore MSA (Muskegon County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 79,500 | 81,300 | 84,900 | -1,800 (-2.2%) | -5,400 (-6.4%) |
| Employed | 75,700 | 77,100 | 80,200 | -1,400 (-1.8%) | -4,500 (-5.6%) |
| Unemployed | 3,800 | 4,200 | 4,700 | -400 (-9.5%) | -900 (-19.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% | -0.4 | -0.9 |
Niles MSA (Berrien County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 71,900 | 73,400 | 76,900 | -1,500 (-2.0%) | -5,000 (-6.5%) |
| Employed | 68,700 | 69,800 | 73,000 | -1,100 (-1.6%) | -4,300 (-5.9%) |
| Unemployed | 3,100 | 3,600 | 3,900 | -500 (-13.9%) | -800 (-20.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.1% | -0.5 | -0.7 |
Saginaw MSA (Saginaw County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 81,000 | 82,700 | 85,600 | -1,700 (-2.1%) | -4,600 (-5.4%) |
| Employed | 76,400 | 77,600 | 80,100 | -1,200 (-1.5%) | -3,700 (-4.6%) |
| Unemployed | 4,600 | 5,200 | 5,500 | -600 (-11.5%) | -900 (-16.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 6.2% | 6.4% | -0.5 | -0.7 |
Traverse City MSA (Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 77,400 | 79,000 | 80,800 | -1,600 (-2.0%) | -3,400 (-4.2%) |
| Employed | 74,300 | 75,300 | 76,900 | -1,000 (-1.3%) | -2,600 (-3.4%) |
| Unemployed | 3,100 | 3,700 | 3,900 | -600 (-16.2%) | -800 (-20.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.8% | -0.6 | -0.8 |
Upper Peninsula Labor Market Area (LMA) (15 counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 133,200 | 135,700 | 141,500 | -2,500 (-1.8%) | -8,300 (-5.9%) |
| Employed | 124,800 | 126,500 | 131,500 | -1,700 (-1.3%) | -6,700 (-5.1%) |
| Unemployed | 8,400 | 9,300 | 10,000 | -900 (-9.7%) | -1,600 (-16.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 6.8% | 7.1% | -0.5 | -0.8 |
Northeast Lower Michigan LMA (Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 79,600 | 80,400 | 84,700 | -800 (-1.0%) | -5,100 (-6.0%) |
| Employed | 73,600 | 73,400 | 77,100 | 200 (0.3%) | -3,500 (-4.5%) |
| Unemployed | 6,000 | 7,000 | 7,600 | -1,000 (-14.3%) | -1,600 (-21.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6% | 8.7% | 8.9% | -1.1 | -1.3 |
Northwest Lower Michigan LMA (Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 147,300 | 150,800 | 155,500 | -3,500 (-2.3%) | -8,200 (-5.3%) |
| Employed | 140,100 | 142,500 | 146,400 | -2,400 (-1.7%) | -6,300 (-4.3%) |
| Unemployed | 7,200 | 8,200 | 9,100 | -1,000 (-12.2%) | -1,900 (-20.9%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 5.5% | 5.9% | -0.6 | -1.0 |
Michigan (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Labor Market Indicators | Apr. 2026 | Mar. 2026 | Apr. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 4,859,000 | 4,919,000 | 5,025,000 | -60,000 (-1.2%) | -166,000 (-3.3%) |
| Employed | 4,641,000 | 4,666,000 | 4,790,000 | -25,000 (-0.5%) | -149,000 (-3.1%) |
| Unemployed | 218,000 | 252,000 | 235,000 | -34,000 (-13.5%) | -17,000 (-7.2%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.7% | -0.6 | -0.2 |
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
