October 22, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates decreased in all 18 Michigan labor market areas over the month, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Michigan labor markets showed expected unemployment rate declines during September,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Regional payroll job gains reflected seasonal hiring as schools resumed for the fall semester.”
Regional jobless rates ranged from 3.4 to 5.6 percent during September, with a median rate reduction of 0.6 percentage points. The largest rate decrease occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with an unemployment rate decline of 0.8 percentage points.
Over the year, 16 Michigan labor market areas exhibited unemployment rate declines, with a median rate decrease of 0.2 percentage points. The most pronounced over-the-year rate decline occurred in the Muskegon metropolitan statistical area (MSA) (-0.7 percentage points). Jobless rates in the Midland and Detroit MSAs increased since September 2025.
Total employment down over month and year
Total employment declined in 16 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median decrease of 1.6 percent. The most pronounced over-the-month employment reduction occurred in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-3.9 percent). Employment increased in the Lansing and Detroit metro areas over the month.
All 18 Michigan regions displayed employment declines over the year, with a median decrease of 8.5 percent. The largest over-the-year employment reduction occurred in the Lansing MSA (-10.0 percent).
Regional labor force levels down over month and year
Regional workforce totals receded in 16 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median decline of 2.2 percent. The most pronounced labor force decline occurred in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-4.2 percent).
Regional labor force levels fell in 17 regions over the year, with a median reduction of 8.8 percent. The largest over-the-year labor force decrease occurred in the Lansing MSA (-10.2 percent).
Regional payroll employment mixed in September
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted payroll jobs edged up by 2,000 during September. The most significant over-the-month industry gain occurred in government sector, primarily due to hiring for the fall semester at local schools and universities (+42,000).
Payroll jobs advanced in seven Michigan metro areas over the month, with a median increase of 0.7 percent. The largest employment gain occurred in the Lansing MSA (+2.6 percent). Payroll employment fell in seven areas during September and remained unchanged in the Niles metro area.
Michigan total nonfarm employment increased by 1,000 over the year. Nine metro areas displayed payroll job gains during this period, while five regions exhibited nonfarm employment reductions. Payroll jobs were unchanged in the Bay City metro area since September 2025.
County jobless rates down over month and year
Seventy-eight Michigan counties demonstrated unemployment rate reductions over the month, with a median decrease of 0.6 percentage points. Sixty-four Michigan counties exhibited jobless rate decreases since September 2025.
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 the 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 | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 189,900 | 193,300 | 207,200 | -3,400 (-1.8%) | -17,300 (-8.3%) |
| Employed | 182,900 | 185,300 | 199,400 | -2,400 (-1.3%) | -16,500 (-8.3%) |
|
Unemployed |
7,000 | 8,100 | 7,900 | -1,100 (-13.6%) | -900 (-11.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% |
4.2% |
3.8% | -0.5 | -0.1 |
Battle Creek MSA (Calhoun County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 58,600 | 59,900 | 64,700 | -1,300 (-2.2%) | -6,100 (-9.4%) |
| Employed | 56,000 | 56,800 | 61,500 | -800 (-1.4%) | -5,500 (-8.9%) |
| Unemployed | 2,700 | 3,200 | 3,200 | -500 (-15.6%) | -500 (-15.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.0% | -0.7 | -0.4 |
Bay City MSA (Bay County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 45,600 | 46,800 | 50,100 | -1,200 (-2.6%) | -4,500 (-9.0%) |
| Employed | 43,400 | 44,300 | 47,600 | -900 (-2.0%) | -4,200 (-8.8%) |
| Unemployed | 2,200 | 2,500 | 2,500 | -300 (-12.0%) | -300 (-12.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.0% | -0.6 | -0.2 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, Livingston, and St. Clair counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 2,174,000 | 2,154,000 | 2,162,000 | 20,000 (0.9%) | 12,000 (0.6%) |
| Employed | 2,052,000 | 2,030,000 | 2,057,000 | 22,000 (1.1%) | -5,000 (-0.2%) |
| Unemployed | 123,000 | 124,000 | 105,000 | -1,000 (-0.8%) | 18,000 (17.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 5.7% | 4.9% | -0.1 | 0.7 |
Flint MSA (Genesee County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 173,200 | 178,400 | 189,600 | -5,200 (-2.9%) | -16,400 (-8.6%) |
| Employed | 164,400 | 168,100 | 178,900 | -3,700 (-2.2%) | -14,500 (-8.1%) |
| Unemployed | 8,800 | 10,300 | 10,700 | -1,500 (-14.6%) | -1,900 (-17.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.8% | 5.6% | -0.7 | -0.5 |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming Kentwood MSA (Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 569,900 | 581,300 | 625,100 | -11,400 (-2.0%) | -55,200 (-8.8%) |
| Employed | 548,800 | 556,700 | 600,900 | -7,900 (-1.4%) | -52,100 (-8.7%) |
| Unemployed | 21,100 | 24,600 | 24,200 | -3,500 (-14.2%) | -3,100 (-12.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 4.2% | 3.9% | -0.5 | -0.2 |
Jackson MSA (Jackson County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 67,800 | 68,900 | 74,100 | -1,100 (-1.6%) | -6,300 (-8.5%) |
| Employed | 64,700 | 65,500 | 70,700 | -800 (-1.2%) | -6,000 (-8.5%) |
| Unemployed | 3,000 | 3,400 | 3,400 | -400 (-11.8%) | -400 (-11.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 5.0% | 4.6% | -0.5 | -0.1 |
Kalamazoo-Portage MSA (Kalamazoo County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 127,600 | 128,400 | 140,500 | -800 (-0.6%) | -12,900 (-9.2%) |
| Employed | 122,500 | 122,600 | 134,600 | -100 (-0.1%) | -12,100 (-9.0%) |
| Unemployed | 5,100 | 5,800 | 5,900 | -700 (-12.1%) | -800 (-13.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 4.6% | 4.2% | -0.6 | -0.2 |
Lansing-East Lansing MSA (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 229,800 | 229,800 | 255,900 | 0 (0.0%) | -26,100 (-10.2%) |
| Employed | 220,700 | 219,300 | 245,300 | 1,400 (0.6%) | -24,600 (-10.0%) |
| Unemployed | 9,000 | 10,600 | 10,600 | -1,600 (-15.1%) | -1,600 (-15.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 4.6% | 4.1% | -0.7 | -0.2 |
Midland MSA (Midland County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 38,600 | 39,500 | 42,100 | -900 (-2.3%) | -3,500 (-8.3%) |
| Employed | 36,900 | 37,600 | 40,400 | -700 (-1.9%) | -3,500 (-8.7%) |
| Unemployed | 1,700 | 1,900 | 1,800 | -200 (-10.5%) | -100 (-5.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.2% | -0.5 | 0.1 |
Monroe MSA (Monroe County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 70,800 | 71,700 | 77,600 | -900 (-1.3%) | -6,800 (-8.8%) |
| Employed | 67,700 | 68,100 | 74,000 | -400 (-0.6%) | -6,300 (-8.5%) |
| Unemployed | 3,000 | 3,600 | 3,600 | -600 (-16.7%) | -600 (-16.7%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.0% | 4.6% | -0.7 | -0.3 |
Muskegon-Norton Shore MSA (Muskegon County)
|
Labor Market Indicators |
Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 77,800 | 80,000 | 85,300 | -2,200 (-2.8%) | -7,500 (-8.8%) |
| Employed | 74,200 | 75,800 | 80,800 | -1,600 (-2.1%) | -6,600 (-8.2%) |
| Unemployed | 3,600 | 4,200 | 4,500 | -600 (-14.3%) | -900 (-20.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.3% | -0.7 | -0.7 |
Niles MSA (Berrien County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 69,800 | 71,500 | 77,100 | -1,700 (-2.4%) | -7,300 (-9.5%) |
| Employed | 66,800 | 68,100 | 73,600 | -1,300 (-1.9%) | -6,800 (-9.2%) |
| Unemployed | 3,000 | 3,500 | 3,500 | -500 (-14.3%) | -500 (-14.3%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.8% | 4.5% | -0.6 | -0.3 |
Saginaw MSA (Saginaw County)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 78,700 | 80,400 | 86,400 | -1,700 (-2.1%) | -7,700 (-8.9%) |
| Employed | 74,700 | 75,700 | 81,600 | -1,000 (-1.3%) | -6,900 (-8.5%) |
| Unemployed | 4,000 | 4,700 | 4,800 | -700 (-14.9%) | -800 (-16.7%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 5.8% | 5.5% | -0.7 | -0.4 |
Traverse City MSA (Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 77,800 | 80,800 | 83,400 | -3,000 (-3.7%) | -5,600 (-6.7%) |
| Employed | 75,100 | 77,800 | 80,400 | -2,700 (-3.5%) | -5,300 (-6.6%) |
| Unemployed | 2,700 | 3,000 | 3,000 | -300 (-10.0%) | -300 (-10.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.6% | -0.3 | -0.2 |
Upper Peninsula Labor Market Area (LMA) (15 counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 131,300 | 133,300 | 142,800 | -2,000 (-1.5%) | -11,500 (-8.1%) |
| Employed | 125,600 | 126,600 | 136,400 | -1,000 (-0.8%) | -10,800 (-7.9%) |
| Unemployed | 5,700 | 6,700 | 6,400 | -1,000 (-14.9%) | -700 (-10.9%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 5.0% | 4.5% | -0.7 | -0.2 |
Northeast Lower Michigan LMA (Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, and Roscommon counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 79,000 | 81,900 | 85,800 | -2,900 (-3.5%) | -6,800 (-7.9%) |
| Employed | 75,000 | 77,100 | 81,100 | -2,100 (-2.7%) | -6,100 (-7.5%) |
| Unemployed | 4,000 | 4,700 | 4,600 | -700 (-14.9%) | -600 (-13.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.8% | 5.4% | -0.8 | -0.4 |
Northwest Lower Michigan LMA (Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 148,500 | 155,000 | 160,400 | -6,500 (-4.2%) | -11,900 (-7.4%) |
| Employed | 142,900 | 148,700 | 154,000 | -5,800 (-3.9%) | -11,100 (-7.2%) |
| Unemployed | 5,600 | 6,300 | 6,400 | -700 (-11.1%) | -800 (-12.5%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.0% | -0.3 | -0.2 |
Michigan (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
| Labor Market Indicators | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Over-the-Month Change | Over-the-Year Change |
| Civilian Labor Force | 4,792,000 | 4,824,000 | 5,030,000 | -32,000 (-0.7%) | -238,000 (-4.7%) |
| Employed | 4,560,000 | 4,573,000 | 4,798,000 | -13,000 (-0.3%) | -238,000 (-5.0%) |
| Unemployed | 232,000 | 251,000 | 232,000 | -19,000 (-7.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.6% | -0.4 | 0.2 |
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
