September 24, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates receded in 13 of Michigan’s 18 labor market areas over the month, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Michigan regional unemployment rate reductions were primarily influenced by workforce declines over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll jobs edged up in over half of Michigan’s metro areas during August.”
Michigan regional unemployment rates ranged from 3.7 to 5.8 percent during August, with a minor median rate decrease of 0.1 percentage points. The most pronounced over-the-month rate decline occurred in the Battle Creek metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Unemployment rates edged up in the Midland and Muskegon MSAs over the month, and rates remained unchanged in the Ann Arbor, Bay City, and Flint metro areas since July.
Sixteen Michigan labor market areas demonstrated unemployment rate reductions over the year, with a median rate decrease of 0.3 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate decline occurred in the Monroe metro area (-0.8 percentage points). The Detroit and Midland MSAs exhibited jobless rate gains since August 2025.
Regional employment down over month and year
Total employment receded in all 18 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median reduction of 0.8 percent. The most pronounced over-the-month employment decline occurred in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-1.5 percent).
All 18 Michigan regions demonstrated employment decreases over the year, with a median decline of 6.5 percent. The largest over-the-year employment reduction occurred in both the Lansing and Midland MSAs (-7.6 percent).
Regional workforce levels down over month and year
Regional labor force totals fell in all 18 Michigan labor market areas in August, with a median decrease of 0.9 percent. The Northwest Lower Michigan region exhibited the largest over-the-month workforce decline (-1.5 percent).
Regional labor force levels fell in all 18 regions over the year, with a median decrease of 6.8 percent. The Muskegon and Lansing metro areas both demonstrated the largest over-the-year labor force decline of 7.9 percent.
Regional total payroll jobs edge up in August
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted payroll jobs inched up by 5,000, or 0.1 percent, during August. The largest over-the-month employment gains occurred in the government (+6,000) and professional and business services (+3,000) sectors.
Payroll jobs rose in nine of Michigan’s 15 metro areas over the month, with a median increase of 0.3 percent. Nonfarm employment was reduced in the Niles, Traverse City, and Kalamazoo MSAs in August, and payroll jobs remained unchanged in three regions over the month.
Michigan total nonfarm employment advanced by 12,000, or 0.3 percent, over the year. Nine metro areas demonstrated payroll job gains since August 2025, led by the Jackson MSA (+1.2 percent). Six regions exhibited employment reductions over the year.
County jobless rates down over month and year
Fifty-nine of Michigan’s 83 counties demonstrated unemployment rate reductions during August, with a median decrease of 0.2 percentage points. Jobless rates fell in 71 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 | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 193,200 | 195,100 | 207,000 | -1,900 (-1.0%) | -13,800 (-6.7%) |
| Employed | 185,100 | 186,800 | 197,800 | -1,700 (-0.9%) | -12,700 (-6.4%) |
| Unemployed | 8,000 | 8,300 | 9,200 | -300 (-3.6%) | -1,200 (-13.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 0.0 | -0.3 |
Battle Creek MSA (Calhoun County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 59,900 | 60,400 | 64,700 | -500 (-0.8%) | -4,800 (-7.4%) |
| Employed | 56,700 | 56,900 | 60,900 | -200 (-0.4%) | -4,200 (-6.9%) |
| Unemployed | 3,200 | 3,500 | 3,700 | -300 (-8.6%) | -500 (-13.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.8% | 5.8% | -0.5 | -0.5 |
Bay City MSA (Bay County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 46,800 | 47,100 | 50,300 | -300 (-0.6%) | -3,500 (-7.0%) |
| Employed | 44,200 | 44,600 | 47,400 | -400 (-0.9%) | -3,200 (-6.8%) |
| Unemployed | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,900 | 0 (0.0%) | -400 (-13.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.7% | 0.0 | -0.3 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Livingston, and St. Clair counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 2,154,000 | 2,184,000 | 2,164,000 | -30,000 (-1.4%) | -10,000 (-0.5%) |
| Employed | 2,031,000 | 2,054,000 | 2,063,000 | -23,000 (-1.1%) | -32,000 (-1.6%) |
| Unemployed | 124,000 | 130,000 | 101,000 | -6,000 (-4.6%) | 23,000 (22.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 6.0% | 4.7% | -0.3 | 1.0 |
Flint MSA (Genesee County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 178,300 | 180,000 | 190,900 | -1,700 (-0.9%) | -12,600 (-6.6%) |
| Employed | 168,000 | 169,600 | 178,900 | -1,600 (-0.9%) | -10,900 (-6.1%) |
| Unemployed | 10,300 | 10,400 | 12,000 | -100 (-1.0%) | -1,700 (-14.2%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 0.0 | -0.5 |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming Kentwood MSA (Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 581,700 | 583,500 | 623,000 | -1,800 (-0.3%) | -41,300 (-6.6%) |
| Employed | 557,100 | 558,300 | 595,300 | -1,200 (-0.2%) | -38,200 (-6.4%) |
| Unemployed | 24,600 | 25,200 | 27,700 | -600 (-2.4%) | -3,100 (-11.2%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% | -0.1 | -0.2 |
Jackson MSA (Jackson County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 68,800 | 69,500 | 73,500 | -700 (-1.0%) | -4,700 (-6.4%) |
| Employed | 65,400 | 65,900 | 69,600 | -500 (-0.8%) | -4,200 (-6.0%) |
| Unemployed | 3,400 | 3,600 | 3,900 | -200 (-5.6%) | -500 (-12.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% | -0.2 | -0.4 |
Kalamazoo-Portage MSA (Kalamazoo County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 129,100 | 129,500 | 139,000 | -400 (-0.3%) | -9,900 (-7.1%) |
| Employed | 123,200 | 123,500 | 132,400 | -300 (-0.2%) | -9,200 (-6.9%) |
| Unemployed | 5,900 | 6,000 | 6,600 | -100 (-1.7%) | -700 (-10.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% | -0.1 | -0.3 |
Lansing-East Lansing MSA (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 229,600 | 231,200 | 249,300 | -1,600 (-0.7%) | -19,700 (-7.9%) |
| Employed | 219,000 | 220,200 | 237,100 | -1,200 (-0.5%) | -18,100 (-7.6%) |
| Unemployed | 10,600 | 11,000 | 12,200 | -400 (-3.6%) | -1,600 (-13.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.9% | -0.2 | -0.3 |
Midland MSA (Midland County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 39,500 | 39,800 | 42,700 | -300 (-0.8%) | -3,200 (-7.5%) |
| Employed | 37,600 | 38,000 | 40,700 | -400 (-1.1%) | -3,100 (-7.6%) |
| Unemployed | 1,900 | 1,900 | 2,000 | 0 (0.0%) | -100 (-5.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Monroe MSA (Monroe County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 71,600 | 72,400 | 77,600 | -800 (-1.1%) | -6,000 (-7.7%) |
| Employed | 68,000 | 68,700 | 73,100 | -700 (-1.0%) | -5,100 (-7.0%) |
| Unemployed | 3,600 | 3,700 | 4,500 | -100 (-2.7%) | -900 (-20.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.8% | -0.1 | -0.8 |
Muskegon-Norton Shore MSA (Muskegon County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 79,900 | 80,400 | 86,800 | -500 (-0.6%) | -6,900 (-7.9%) |
| Employed | 75,800 | 76,200 | 81,800 | -400 (-0.5%) | -6,000 (-7.3%) |
| Unemployed | 4,200 | 4,200 | 5,000 | 0 (0.0%) | -800 (-16.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 0.1 | -0.4 |
Niles MSA (Berrien County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 71,500 | 72,200 | 77,400 | -700 (-1.0%) | -5,900 (-7.6%) |
| Employed | 68,000 | 68,600 | 73,500 | -600 (-0.9%) | -5,500 (-7.5%) |
| Unemployed | 3,500 | 3,600 | 3,900 | -100 (-2.8%) | -400 (-10.3%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.1% | -0.1 | -0.3 |
Saginaw MSA (Saginaw County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 80,400 | 80,800 | 86,300 | -400 (-0.5%) | -5,900 (-6.8%) |
| Employed | 75,700 | 76,000 | 80,900 | -300 (-0.4%) | -5,200 (-6.4%) |
| Unemployed | 4,700 | 4,700 | 5,400 | 0 (0.0%) | -700 (-13.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.9% | 6.2% | -0.1 | -0.4 |
Traverse City MSA (Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 80,900 | 82,000 | 86,300 | -1,100 (-1.3%) | -5,400 (-6.3%) |
| Employed | 77,900 | 78,900 | 82,900 | -1,000 (-1.3%) | -5,000 (-6.0%) |
| Unemployed | 3,000 | 3,100 | 3,400 | -100 (-3.2%) | -400 (-11.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.9% | -0.1 | -0.2 |
Upper Peninsula Labor Market Area (LMA) (15 counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 133,100 | 133,900 | 142,500 | -800 (-0.6%) | -9,400 (-6.6%) |
| Employed | 126,400 | 126,900 | 134,700 | -500 (-0.4%) | -8,300 (-6.2%) |
| Unemployed | 6,700 | 7,000 | 7,800 | -300 (-4.3%) | -1,100 (-14.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.2% | 5.4% | -0.2 | -0.4 |
Northeast Lower Michigan LMA (Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 81,800 | 82,600 | 87,200 | -800 (-1.0%) | -5,400 (-6.2%) |
| Employed | 77,100 | 77,700 | 81,900 | -600 (-0.8%) | -4,800 (-5.9%) |
| Unemployed | 4,700 | 4,900 | 5,400 | -200 (-4.1%) | -700 (-13.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 5.9% | 6.1% | -0.1 | -0.3 |
Northwest Lower Michigan LMA (Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 154,900 | 157,300 | 166,100 | -2,400 (-1.5%) | -11,200 (-6.7%) |
| Employed | 148,600 | 150,800 | 158,900 | -2,200 (-1.5%) | -10,300 (-6.5%) |
| Unemployed | 6,300 | 6,500 | 7,200 | -200 (-3.1%) | -900 (-12.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.4% | -0.1 | -0.3 |
Michigan (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Labor Market Indicators | Aug. 2026 | Jul. 2026 | Aug. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 4,825,000 | 4,868,000 | 5,033,000 | -43,000 (-0.9%) | -208,000 (-4.1%) |
| Employed | 4,574,000 | 4,607,000 | 4,786,000 | -33,000 (-0.7%) | -212,000 (-4.4%) |
| Unemployed | 251,000 | 261,000 | 247,000 | -10,000 (-3.8%) | 4,000 (1.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 5.4% | 4.9% | -0.2 | 0.3 |
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
