Michigan Jobless Rate Rises During March

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate advanced by 0.1 percentage points between February and March to 5.5 percent.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points over the month to 4.2 percent. Michigan’s March unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate. Over the year, the national unemployment rate rose by three-tenths of a percentage point, while the statewide unemployment rate increased by 1.3 percentage points. Michigan’s 2025 first quarter average jobless rate was 5.4 percent, 1.3 percentage points larger than the U.S. average unemployment rate from January through March (4.1 percent). Michigan exhibited the second largest jobless rate in the nation during March, surpassed only by Nevada (5.7 percent).  

Michigan’s total workforce edged up by 0.1 percent over the month, an increase identical to the national workforce increase in March. Total statewide employment receded by 0.1 percent, while the U.S. employment level advanced by 0.1 percent. The number of unemployed people in the state rose by 1.8 percent, an over-the-month increase 1.4 percentage points above the national unemployment total gain of 0.4 percent.

Over the year, Michigan’s labor force advanced by 1.2 percent, 0.4 percentage points below the workforce increase seen nationally. Statewide employment edged down by 0.2 percent, while the U.S. employment total increased by 1.3 percent. The number of unemployed people in Michigan increased by 32.9 percent, and the national count of unemployed rose by 9.0 percent since March 2024.  

The Michigan and U.S. unemployment rates have risen consistently since the beginning of 2025.

Source: Local Area Unemployment 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.