May 08, 2025
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in March 2025 were higher over the year in 279 of the 387 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across the nation. This was reflected in the national unemployment rate, which advanced to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent (+0.3 percentage points) a year prior.
All 15 of Michigan’s MSAs ranked in the top ten percent of MSAs nationally in their over-the-year rise in not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates. While unemployment rates in MSAs nationwide increased by a median of 0.3 percentage points, Michigan’s MSAs rose by a median of 1.4 percentage points. Michigan’s MSA percentage point increase in unemployment rates ranged from a 1.0 advance in Traverse City to 1.7 in Saginaw, Muskegon-Norton Shores, Flint, and Monroe. This is in line with Michigan’s statewide unemployment rate, which recorded the second-largest gain (+1.4 percentage points) of the 50 states.
March 2025 Over-the-Year Percentage Point Change in Unemployment Rate, Not Seasonally Adjusted
Source: Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Michigan Center for Data and Analytics
Not Seasonally Adjusted
| Michigan MSA | March 2024 Unemployment Rate | March 2025 Unemployment Rate | Over-the-Year Percentage Point Change | Over-the-Year National Rank |
| Saginaw | 5.8% | 7.5% | +1.7 | 5 (tied) |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | 4.6% | 6.3% | +1.7 | 5 (tied) |
| Flint | 5.4% | 7.1% | +1.7 | 5 (tied) |
| Monroe | 4.4% | 6.1% | +1.7 | 5 (tied) |
| Bay City | 5.7% | 7.2% | +1.5 | 9 (tied) |
| Battle Creek | 4.7% | 6.2% | +1.5 | 9 (tied) |
| Jackson, MI | 4.4% | 5.9% | +1.5 | 9 (tied) |
| Niles, MI | 4.6% | 6.0% | +1.4 | 12 (tied) |
| Ann Arbor | 3.3% | 4.7% | +1.4 | 12 (tied) |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | 3.9% | 5.3% | +1.4 | 12 (tied) |
| Midland | 4.4% | 5.7% | +1.3 | 17 (tied) |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | 3.7% | 4.9% | +1.2 | 21 (tied) |
| Lansing-East Lansing | 3.9% | 5.1% | +1.2 | 21 (tied) |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | 3.6% | 4.8% | +1.2 | 21 (tied) |
| Traverse City | 4.6% | 5.6% | +1.0 | 36 (tied) |
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Michigan Center for Data and Analytics
The March 2025 not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates among Michigan’s MSAs were also elevated, with all 15 placing in the top one-third of MSAs nationwide. Jobless rates across Michigan’s MSAs ranged from 4.7 percent in Ann Arbor to 7.5 percent in Saginaw. This compares to Michigan’s statewide not seasonally unadjusted rate of 5.7 percent, the highest among the states (second highest when seasonally adjusted, behind Nevada), and a nationwide figure of 4.2 percent.
Compared to the 56 MSAs nationwide with 2020 Census populations of 1 million or more, the two located in Michigan – Detroit-Warren-Dearborn and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood – also stood out. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn had the highest not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increase (+1.4 percentage points) since March 2024 and tied for fourth in total rate of unemployment (5.3 percent) in March 2025, while Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood ranked second in rate of increase (+1.2 percentage points) and tied for ninth in total unemployment (4.8 percent).
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