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Michigan Works! West Central Jobs Decrease Over the Year

January 13, 2026

In the second quarter of 2025, Michigan Works! West Central had a total private employment of 40,770. This was the third smallest total private employment among Michigan Works! regions, ahead of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium and Michigan Works! Region 7B. Total private employment within Michigan Works! West Central accounted for 1.1 percent of total statewide employment.

Newaygo County accounted for nearly one-quarter of total private employment within Michigan Works! West Central. Mason and Mecosta counties had the next largest shares, each making up more than one-fifth of the region’s total private employment. Lake County had the smallest share at just over 3 percent.

Total private employment in the Michigan Works! West Central region decreased by 1,150 (-2.7 percent) from the second quarter of 2024 but has increased by 1,340 (3.4 percent) since the second quarter of 2015. Statewide, total private employment has decreased 0.3 percent from second quarter 2024 and has increased 6.3 percent since second quarter 2015.

Within the region, Trade, transportation, and utilities accounted for nearly one-quarter of all private jobs in the second quarter of 2025. This was followed by Manufacturing (20.4 percent), Education and health services (14.7 percent), and Leisure and hospitality (12.6 percent).

Regional Analysis Quarterly Employment and Wages

Author:

Nick Gandhi

Economic Analyst

Trade, transportation, and utilities had the largest share of total private employment within Michigan Works! West Central.

Share of Total Private Employment in Michigan Works! West Central, Second Quarter 2025 

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Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

For more information on this data for your area, please visit the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics Data Search Tool.

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