December 15, 2025
Continued unemployment insurance claims increased sharply throughout the second half of 2024 and into the start of 2025. While still elevated, continued claims have returned closer to levels seen in previous years. Most recently, October 2025 marked the first month to have an over-the-year decrease (-17.5 percent) in continued claims for the week containing the 12th of the month since April 2023.
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Total Michigan Continued Unemployment Insurance Claims (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Source: U.S. Employment and Training Administration
This 17.5 percent over-the-year decrease in continued claims was almost entirely accounted for by Manufacturing and reflects the large number of claims from this sector in October 2024. Aside from Manufacturing, increases in continued claims were widespread with eight sectors experiencing a rise over the year. Financial activities; Public administration; and Education and health services had the largest increases, each exceeding 30 percent. Excluding Manufacturing, continued claims increased by 16.4 percent over the year in October.
Over-the-Year Percent Change in Michigan Continued Claims by Industry Sector, October 2024–October 2025
Source: U.S. Employment and Training Administration
Over the month, Michigan continued claims increased by 6.2 percent in October with claims increasing in just over half of the state’s industry sectors. Most notably, Manufacturing and Professional and business services each had over-the-month percent changes ranking in the top 10 highest among states. While Michigan’s Manufacturing sector moved up several spots to have the second most continued claims among states, the Professional and business services sector maintained its ranking at ninth.
Michigan Continued Claims and State Rank by Industry Sector, September 2025 and October 2025
| Industry Sector | Oct. 2025 Continued Claims | Over-the-Month Percent Change | Over-the-Month Percent Change Rank |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 370 | 4.5% | 28 |
| Construction | 2,890 | 2.3% | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 12,360 | 26.7% | 5 |
| Trade, Transportation, Utilities | 7,980 | 0.0% | 14 |
| Information | 850 | -6.1 | 33 |
| Financial Activities | 2,700 | -2.7% | 30 |
| Professional and Business Services | 10,730 | 6.2% | 7 |
| Educational and Health Services | 6,170 | -3.6% | 25 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 2,860 | -4.7 | 36 |
| Other Services | 1,140 | -7.8 | 40 |
| Public Administration | 650 | 10.3% | 21 |
| Total | 49,780 | 6.2% | 10 |
Source: U.S. Employment and Training Administration
The share of continued claims from individuals in Production occupations also increased over the month in October, consistent with the relatively large increase in Manufacturing claims. As a result, the share of total continued claims for most other occupation groups decreased, except for Computer and Math which had a very small increase. Production had the largest increase in continued claims over the month among occupation groups at 41.7 percent, while Education, training, and library had the largest decline at 17.3 percent.
Share of Michigan Continued Claims by Major Occupation Group, Top 10
Source: U.S. Employment and Training Administration
Overall, Michigan’s not seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate increased rather steadily throughout October 2025. Starting at 1.07 percent, the insured unemployment rate increased to 1.29 percent by the end of the month, going from the 18th to 16th highest among states. However, it is important to note that this increase may reflect seasonal trends.
Michigan Not Seasonally Adjusted Insured Unemployment Rate, October 2025
Source: U.S. Employment and Training Administration
The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration’s Characteristics of Unemployment Insurance Claimants reports the demographic, occupation, and industry information for those filing continued unemployment insurance claims. This monthly data reflects claims filed for the week containing the 12th of the month, the same reference week the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses for unemployment rate estimates. While individuals who are unemployed may not claim unemployment benefits for a variety of reasons, continued claims data can provide insight into the demographic and industrial trends among those who are unemployed.
