May 08, 2025
In March 2025, just under 168,900 online job advertisements were posted in Michigan. This was an increase of roughly 2,200 ads (1.3 percent) from the previous month and a reduction of 24,700 ads (-12.7 percent) since March 2024. Of these advertisements, 67,500 were newly posted in March, meaning they did not carry over from the previous month.
The supply and demand ratio is an indicator of the number of unemployed people (supply) in relation to the number of available online job advertisements (demand). In March 2025, Michigan experienced a supply and demand ratio of 1.72. This means there were approximately 172 unemployed people for every 100 jobs advertised online. Though the ratio decreased from February’s 1.81, it was still a significant increase from the ratio of 1.13 observed in March 2024. This matched the trend of elevated supply and demand ratios witnessed in 2025 so far. These over-the-year ratio increases can be attributed to both the growth in unemployment and the gradual decline of online job ads over the past few months.
Supply and Demand Rate Over Time in Michigan
Source: Help Wanted OnLine, Lightcast Developer; Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are one of the most prominent Registered Apprenticeship-related occupations in Michigan. According to the Registered Apprenticeship Michigan Dashboard, this occupation has the third largest number of active registered apprentices in Michigan, with just under 2,000. From 2014 to 2024, Registered Apprenticeship programs for Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Michigan experienced a 168 percent increase in annual new registered apprentices. Based on the most recent 2024 data, Registered Apprenticeship completers for this occupation typically earned an annual salary of $89,000 one year after completion.
Like the supply of this occupation, the demand has also increased. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters saw just over 250 online job advertisements in March 2025. This marked a growth of 20 ads (8.5 percent) over the month and 70 ads (38.0 percent) since March 2024. This was the largest frequency of online job ad posts for this occupation since March 2022. In March 2025, online job ads for this occupation were spread across many industries and locations. The industries that posted the most online job advertisements for this occupation included Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors; Other management consulting services; and Oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction. These three industries accounted for 19.7 percent of this occupation’s ads. The metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with the most online job ads for this occupation were Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, and Lansing-East Lansing. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA comprised 42.9 percent of this occupation’s ads for the month.
Many of the advertisements for this occupation listed desired skills. The most frequently advertised common skills included communication, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities. Many of these advertisements also listed specialized skills. Besides plumbing, the most sought-after specialized skills involved plumbing systems, valves, and power tool operation.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Ads Over Time
Source: Help Wanted OnLine, Lightcast Developer
More information about Michigan job advertisements can be found using the Online Job Ad Snapshot Dashboard.
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