August 06, 2024
Reviewing labor market trends among different demographic populations can highlight disparities among these groups. Demographic data for all states are published as an annual average by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics once a year. This data comes from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is a different source than the standard monthly labor market information containing Michigan’s official unemployment rate, labor force, and payroll jobs. Comparisons should not be made with monthly data, as the demographic information presented here is a 12-month average for Michigan and the U.S.
According to 12-month moving average unemployment rate data from the Current Population Survey, in June 2024, both men and women had higher unemployment rates in Michigan than nationally. For men, Michigan’s jobless rate of 4.2 percent was 0.2 percentage points greater than the U.S. average. For women, the state’s 12-month average unemployment rate of 3.7 percent was 0.1 percentage point higher than the average female jobless rate in the U.S.
Jobless rates for men and women have seen a noticeable shift in the last year, both in Michigan and nationally. From June 2023 to June 2024, the 12-month jobless rate for men increased by 0.6 percentage points in Michigan, while women saw an overall decline, with the rate falling by 0.3 percentage points over the year. Similar to Michigan, the 12-month average national unemployment rate for males advanced over the year, increasing by 0.4 percentage points. Unlike the downward shift in the jobless rate for females in Michigan, nationally the rate increased 0.1 percentage points over the period.
Unemployment Rate
| Gender | June 2024 | June 2023 |
| Male 16+ | 4.2% | 3.6% |
| Female 16+ | 3.7% | 4.0% |
Labor Force Participation Rate
| Gender | June 2024 | June 2023 |
| Male 16+ | 67.0% | 65.8% |
| Female 16+ | 58.0% | 55.7% |
Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
During June 2024, the 12-month average labor force participation rate for men in Michigan was 67.0 percent, while the female rate was 58.0 percent. Participation rates in Michigan tracked closely to the national average participation rates for men (68.0 percent) and women (57.5 percent) over the same time period.
Workforce participation saw an overall increase for men and women in Michigan since June 2023. The participation rate for men in Michigan rose 1.2 percentage points over the year, while nationally the rate was unchanged. The female participation rate in Michigan saw a notable rise over the year, increasing by 2.3 percentage points, while the national average climbed by 0.5 percentage points.
In June 2024, the 12-month moving average unemployment rates for Black and white individuals in Michigan was 5.5 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. The Black unemployment rate in Michigan was 0.3 percentage points lower than the national average, while the white unemployment rate nationally was 0.2 percentage points lower than in Michigan.
Observing the 12-month moving average unemployment rate for white people from June 2023 to June 2024 shows that jobless rates rose in Michigan and at the national level. In the U.S., the unemployment rate for white individuals rose 0.2 percentage points, while in Michigan, the white rate only climbed 0.1 percentage points during this period. Over the year, the Black unemployment rate in Michigan saw noticeable improvement, with the rate declining by 0.4 percentage points. Conversely, the national unemployment rate for Black individuals rose by 0.1 percentage points over the year.
Unemployment Rate
| Race | June 2024 | June 2023 |
| Black 16+ | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| White 16+ | 3.6% | 3.4% |
Labor Force Participation Rate
| Race | June 2024 | June 2023 |
| Black 16+ | 62.5% | 59.8% |
| White 16+ | 62.2% | 60.6% |
Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Labor force participation rates for Black and white individuals in Michigan were comparable to the national average for June 2024. In Michigan, the 12-month average Black participation rate was 62.5 percent, 0.7 percentage points lower than the national average. The white participation rate in Michigan (62.2 percent) was 0.1 percentage points lower than the national average over the same time period.
From June 2023 to June 2024, workforce participation rates saw little change nationally, while Michigan’s Black and white population saw rates increase. In Michigan, the Black 12-month average participation rate rose 2.7 percentage points since last June, while the national rate rose by just 0.5 percentage points. The 12-month average white participation rate rose over the year in Michigan as well, increasing by 1.6 percentage points. Nationally, the white participation rate increased slightly by 0.2 percentage points
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