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Michigan Payroll Jobs Remain Flat in August

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs remained relatively flat over the month, with jobs dipping by just 2,200 in August. National payroll employment growth has slowed to a similar level, increasing just 0.1 percent by adding 142,000 jobs during the same period.

Total payroll jobs saw little movement in August due to offsetting changes within various industries.

Monthly Job Change (Data in Thousands)

Source: Current Employment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

The Private education and health services (-2,100) and Government (-1,300) sectors were the greatest contributors to the payroll jobs reduction in Michigan. Most job losses in the Private education and health services sector were due to declines within the Healthcare and social assistance (-1,700) subsector. Decreases in the Government sector were largely driven by a reduction in the State government (-1,000) subsector.

The mild reductions experienced by the Private education and health services and Government sectors were mostly offset by job additions in the Construction (+1,300) and Trade, transportation, and utilities (+800) sectors. Of the jobs gained in the Trade, transportation, & Utilities sector, 400 were in the Retail trade subsector, while Wholesale trade contributed 300 additional jobs.

Nationally, total nonfarm employment increased by 142,000 (0.1 percent) in August. The Private education and health services (+47,000) and Leisure and hospitality (+46,000) sectors had the largest impact on the jobs gained over the month. Construction (+0.4 percent) experienced the greatest increase in percentage terms, contributing to the growth of employment. However, a decline in payroll employment in the Manufacturing (-0.2 percent) and Information (-0.2 percent) sectors helped to soften the monthly job growth.

Michigan industries experienced mixed growth over the year.

Industry Job Change (August 2023–August 2024)

Source: Current Employment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

Total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 33,000, or 0.7 percent, since August 2023, with six of the 11 major statewide sectors recording increases. Significant employment growth was seen in the state’s Government (+19,200); Construction (+15,100); and Private education and health services (+11,300) sectors over the year. The job gains statewide were dampened by declines in the Manufacturing (-11,300) sector.

Since August 2023, national payroll jobs outpaced Michigan’s rate of change. Jobs rose by 1.5 percent nationally, over twice the rate of Michigan’s growth. Most of the nation’s jobs advancement was in the Private education and health services sector, adding 959,000 jobs (3.8 percent). The Construction sector expanded by 2.8 percent over the year, contributing the second highest growth in percentage terms across all sectors.

Most Michigan metro areas experienced payroll job growth over the year.

(Not seasonally adjusted)

Source: Current Employment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

The not seasonally adjusted payroll employment was generally flat in August across most Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Michigan. Only three areas saw a negative change over the month. Monroe, Muskegon, and Niles all had moderate reductions in payroll employment between 0.2-0.3 percent. Although Muskegon and Niles also experienced a contraction over the year, Monroe remained flat.

Eight of Michigan’s 14 MSAs experienced an increase in payroll employment from August 2023, while four saw a slight decline. The Detroit MSA (+8,000) and Grand Rapids MSA (+5,300) were the two areas that had the largest gains over the year. The Lansing MSA (+4,800) had the third largest payroll jobs increase but was the largest of all areas in percentage terms (2.0 percent).

Niles experienced the largest decline in total number of jobs and percentage change, down 1,200 jobs (1.9 percent) from a year ago. The number of payroll jobs in Kalamazoo (-900) fell slightly more than in Saginaw (-800); both areas falling by 1.0 percent or less, essentially remaining flat over the year.

 

For more information on Michigan's statewide and regional labor markets, read the full press releases from the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. Download custom employment and unemployment data with the MCDA Data Search tool.

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