Michigan Unemployment Rate Stable in December

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged over the month, remaining at 5.0 percent during December.

The national unemployment rate receded by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.4 percent. Michigan’s December jobless rate was 0.6 percentage points larger than the national rate. The U.S. unemployment rate advanced by 0.3 percentage points over the year, while the statewide jobless rate receded by 0.2 percentage points since December 2024. Michigan had the sixth largest unemployment rate in the nation during December, behind California, New Jersey, Oregon, Nevada, and Delaware.  

Michigan’s total workforce decreased by 0.2 percent between November and December, while the national labor force remained unchanged over the month. Total employment in the state fell by 0.2 percent, and the U.S. employment level advanced by 0.1 percent in December. The total number of unemployed people in the state remained unchanged over the month, while the national unemployment total receded by 3.6 percent.

Over the year, Michigan’s labor force declined by 0.9 percent, whereas the national workforce advanced by 1.8 percent. Statewide employment fell by 0.8 percent, while the U.S. employment total rose by 1.5 percent. The number of unemployed people in Michigan decreased by 3.8 percent over the year, while the national unemployment total advanced by 8.4 percent since December 2024.

Michigan’s 11-Month Annual Average Unemployment Rate Nearly One Percentage Point Above the U.S.

Reviewing labor market trends among different demographic populations can highlight disparities among these groups. Demographic data for all states are published as an annual average by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics once a year. This data comes from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is a different source than the standard monthly labor market information containing Michigan’s official unemployment rate, labor force, and payroll jobs. Comparisons should not be made with monthly data, as the demographic information presented here is an 11-month average for Michigan and the U.S.

For the 11 months of 2025 that exclude October*, Michigan’s average unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, 0.9 percentage points larger than the national 11-month average of 4.3 percent. Michigan’s 11-month average jobless rate for males in the labor force was 5.3 percent, and the annual average jobless rate was 5.0 percent for females in the workforce. In comparison, the national 11-month average jobless rate was 4.4 percent for males and 4.2 percent for females.

Michigan’s 11-month annual average jobless rate for white workforce participants was 4.2 percent in 2025. This was below the average jobless rates for Asian workforce participants (4.9 percent) and Black workforce participants (10.0 percent). Eleven-month annual average jobless rates by race were notably lower nationally than statewide. The national jobless rate was 3.8 percent for white individuals, 3.6 percent for Asian individuals, and 6.9 percent for Black individuals.

*Annual estimates for 2025 are 11-month averages that exclude October. Data for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown.