May 08, 2025
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.
Data from the Current Population Survey provides detailed labor market data on Michigan residents by level of educational attainment: less than a high school diploma; high school graduates, no college; some college or associate degree; and bachelor’s degree and higher. Twelve-month moving average data from March 2025 showed that 6.7 percent of individuals age 25 or older in Michigan have less than a high school diploma, 30.4 percent are high school graduates, with no college, 28.8 percent have some college or an associate degree, and 34.1 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
According to 12-month moving average data from the Current Population Survey, unemployment rates in Michigan were higher than the national average rates across all educational levels in March 2025. Among all levels of educational attainment, individuals with less than a high school diploma had the highest average unemployment rate in Michigan, at 8.3 percent. Nationally, the same group had an average jobless rate of 6.1 percent, 2.2 percentage points lower than Michigan’s rate. The average unemployment rate for high school graduates with no college in Michigan was 5.8 percent, 1.6 percentage points above the national average rate. Individuals with educational attainment beyond a high school diploma tended to have a lower average unemployment rate than other educational cohorts in both Michigan and the U.S. Those with some college or an associate degree had an average unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in Michigan, compared to 3.4 percent nationally. For individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher, Michigan and the U.S. had similar average unemployment rates, at 2.5 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.
From March 2024 to March 2025, unemployment rates have risen across all levels of educational attainment nationally and in Michigan. Individuals with less than a high school diploma saw the greatest over-the-year increase in 12-month average unemployment rates, with rates having increased by 1.9 percentage points in Michigan and 0.4 percentage points in the U.S. Average jobless rates for individuals with a high school diploma and no college rose by 1.5 percentage points in Michigan, compared to 0.2 percentage points nationally. Those with some college or an associate degree experienced a 12-month average rate increase of 1.1 percentage points over the year in Michigan, while nationally, rates rose by only 0.3 percentage points. Average unemployment rates for individuals with a bachelor’s degree rose by 0.8 percentage points in Michigan, nearly triple the rate increase seen nationally (+0.3 percentage points).
Michigan Average Unemployment Rates, April 2024 – March 2025
Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Labor force participation rates in Michigan were comparable to national rates for most levels of educational attainment on average over the 12 months ending March 2025. Examining workforce participation rates in Michigan and the U.S. shows that participation increased as educational attainment rose. Individuals with less than a high school diploma had the lowest average participation rate among all groups, with 43.1 percent participating in the Michigan workforce, compared to 47.6 percent nationally. The average workforce participation rate in Michigan for those with a high school diploma and no college was 54.9 percent, 1.9 percentage points lower than the national average rate. Persons with some college or an associate degree in Michigan had an average participation rate of 60.4 percent, 2.5 percentage points lower than the U.S. rate. Nationally and in Michigan, individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher had the highest average workforce participation rates, with rates of 72.5 percent and 72.4 percent, respectively.
Between the 12-month moving averages ending March 2024 and March 2025, labor force participation rates saw modest movement in Michigan and the U.S. In Michigan, average participation rates for individuals with less than a high school diploma declined by 1.5 percentage points, contrary to the 0.4 percentage points increase seen nationally. Twelve-month average labor force participation for those with a high school diploma and no college rose by 0.5 percentage points in Michigan, while nationally, rates declined slightly by 0.1 percentage points. Individuals with some college or an associate degree saw average participation rates increase slightly nationwide (+0.1 percentage points) but decline in Michigan (-1.8 percentage points). Workforce participation among individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher declined by 0.7 percentage points in Michigan, similar to the drop seen nationally (-0.4 percentage points) on average over the year.
Michigan Average Labor Force Participation Rates, April 2024 – March 2025
Source: Current Population Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Author:
