May 08, 2025
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Michigan total nonfarm payroll jobs declined by 4,700, or 0.1 percent, to a total of 4,510,400 in March. However, despite this drop, average payroll jobs in first quarter 2025 were 13,000 above the average job totals for fourth quarter 2024. Compared all 50 states, Michigan ranked ninth for the largest average employment gain between fourth quarter and first quarter.
Monthly Job Change (Data in Thousands)
Source: Current Employment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics
In the U.S., total nonfarm payroll jobs rose by 0.1 percent, or 228,000, over the month. Several sectors including Private education and health services (+77,000); Trade, transportation and utilities (+48,000); and Leisure and hospitality (+43,000) recorded job additions nationally over the month.
This month’s payroll jobs decline in Michigan was primarily due to decreases within the Manufacturing (-4,500) and Professional and business services (-4,000) sectors. These declines were partially offset by over-the-month job gains in the state’s Government (+1,600); Other services (+1,200); and Leisure and hospitality (+1,100) sectors. Industries such as Mining and logging; Trade, transportation, and utilities; and Private education and health services were flat over the month.
The quarterly average number of jobs in the first quarter 2025 was 13,000 above the fourth quarter 2024 average. This quarter’s employment growth was largely the result of additions within Private education and health services (+5,900); Government (+3,600); and Other Services (+3,100). The only sectors with reported job losses on average between the two quarters were Trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,800); Professional and business services (-1,400); and Manufacturing (-1,000).
Total nonfarm payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 24,000, or 0.5 percent, over the year. Eight of Michigan’s 11 major industry sectors recorded yearly job additions, with the greatest numerical gains seen in Private education and health services (+20,700); Leisure and hospitality (+7,100); and Financial activities (+6,000). The Manufacturing (-12,900) sector saw the greatest numeric employment decline over the year, followed by Professional and business services (-8,000) and Information (-400).
Since March 2024, total U.S. payroll jobs advanced by 1.2 percent, 0.7 percentage points higher than the statewide increase. On a percentage basis in the U.S., the Private education and health services (+3.5 percent); Construction (+1.8 percent); and Other services (+1.5 percent) sectors recorded the most significant employment additions.
On a not seasonally adjusted basis, employment advanced over the month in every Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) except Grand Rapids. In March, the statewide rate of change (+0.1 percent) was three-tenths of a percentage point below the nationwide rate. Thirteen of 15 metro areas experienced job advancements above Michigan’s rate, whereas eight metro areas noted job rate changes greater than the national rate (+0.4 percent).
Over the year, 10 of Michigan’s 15 metro areas saw employment growth. The largest over-the-year rate changes were recorded in the Traverse City (+3.4 percent); Midland (+1.8 percent); Battle Creek (+1.4 percent); and Lansing (+1.4 percent) metro areas. Since March 2024, four metro areas recorded yearly declines, while Saginaw was the only area to see no change over the year. All metro areas recorded an increase or no change in employment within the Other services sector over the year.
(Not seasonally adjusted)
Source: Current Employment Statistics, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics
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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