October 09, 2025
Michigan total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 4,800, or 0.1 percent, in August, bringing the seasonally adjusted total number of jobs to 4,533,600. This was Michigan’s highest payroll jobs total in over 20 years.
Author:
Monthly Job Change, August 2024-August 2025 (Data in Thousands)
Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In August, the growth rate of total nonfarm payroll jobs in the U.S. was lower than that of Michigan. Employment rose by 22,000, or 0.0 percent, over the month. The most significant job growth nationally occurred within Private education and health services (+46,000) and Leisure and hospitality (+28,000).
Michigan, along with 13 other states, recorded the 15th largest employment growth in the nation during August. Twenty-eight states saw growth in payroll jobs, while nine saw little to no change. Over-the-month job growth was led by Utah, with payroll jobs increasing by 0.5 percent, followed by Oregon, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, which grew by 0.3 percent.
Job growth in Michigan was primarily driven by additions within the Professional and business services (+3,600); Private education and health services (+1,500); and Government (+1,200) sectors. Increases in these sectors were partially offset by declines in Michigan’s goods-producing sectors. The Manufacturing (-2,000); Construction (-1,900); Mining and logging (-100) and Information (-100) sectors declined statewide and nationally.
Monthly and 12-Month Percent Change in Michigan Industry Employment
Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Total nonfarm payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 44,100, or 1.0 percent, over the year. Eight of Michigan’s 11 major industry sectors recorded yearly job gains, with the largest numerical increases seen in Private education and health services (+21,700); Government (+12,400); and Financial activities (+8,000). The Construction sector (+3.7 percent) had the highest growth rate over the year in Michigan despite its drop in employment from the previous month.
Mining and logging and Manufacturing, which experienced lower employment levels from a month ago, also have fewer jobs than they did in August 2024. Although Mining and logging is down the most in percentage terms (-4.1 percent), it only recorded 300 fewer jobs than it had in August 2024. The Professional and business services (-11,200 or -1.7 percent) sector was the only service-producing sector to lose jobs over the previous 12 months.
The growth rate in Michigan over the previous 12 months was on par with the national rate. Total nonfarm U.S. payroll jobs rose by 0.9 percent over the year, just below the statewide 12-month average growth of 1.0 percent. Nationally, the Private education and health services (+3.2 percent), Leisure and hospitality (+1.4 percent), and Other services (+1.3 percent) major industry sectors recorded the largest rate changes since August 2024.
Similar to statewide trends, U.S. employment in Mining and logging (-2.1 percent) and Manufacturing (-0.6 percent) also declined nationally. However, Construction only grew by 0.7 percent over the year, three percentage points less than in Michigan.
Ten of Michigan’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) recorded not seasonally adjusted job gains, while two areas remained flat during August. Seven MSAs recorded a job rate change equal to or above the statewide unadjusted rate (+0.2 percent) over the month.
Metro Area Percent Job Change, August 2025 (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The largest over-the-month payroll employment increase occurred in the Battle Creek MSA (+1.2 percent), primarily due to job growth in its Manufacturing (+400) and Government (+300) sectors. The Financial activities sector was the only industry to increase jobs or remain unchanged in all Michigan metro areas in August. Conversely, Information was the only industry to experience a job decline or remain flat across every MSA in Michigan during August.
Over the year, 12 of Michigan’s 15 metro areas recorded employment growth. Ann Arbor (+1.7 percent); Battle Creek (+1.6 percent); and Lansing (+1.3 percent) noted the most significant rate increases over the year. The Niles (-0.5 percent); Traverse City (-0.4 percent); and Midland (-0.2 percent) metro areas were the only regions to experience over-the-year declines in August.
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.
