July 15, 2026
Total covered employment represents the number of surveyed workers who worked during, or received pay for, the pay period that included the 12th day of the month. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Michigan’s total covered employment increased by 600 employees across the state. Michigan’s average weekly wages increased by $58 (4.2 percent) over the year, from $1,369 in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $1,427 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Sixty-one of 83 counties had a higher percentage increase in average weekly wages than the state overall.
The largest increase was seen in Allegan County, gaining 3,800 employees over the period. Kent County (+1,800), Washtenaw County (+1,500), and Saginaw County (+1,400) were the only other counties with a gain of at least 1,000 employees.
Keweenaw County saw the largest over-the-year employment growth rate, rising by 15 percent. Leelanau County was close behind with a 14.3 percent increase over the same period. Allegan County (+9.3 percent), Luce County (+7.3 percent), and Alger County (+6.8 percent) round out the five largest growth rates. Twenty-nine counties had at least a 1.0 percent increase in employment between December 2024 and December 2025, with 15 of those having at least a 2.0 percent increase.
Author:
Percentage Change in Employment for Michigan Counties, Total Covered Employment, December 2024 to December 2025
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wayne County employment declined by 7,400 employees from December 2024 to December 2025, the largest numeric drop among Michigan counties. Oakland county was second, losing 5,200 employees. Ottawa County (-2,800), Macomb County (-2,300), and Ingham County (-1,900) were the only other counties to decline by over 1,000 employees. No other county saw a decline larger than 800 employees over the year.
Three counties had at least a five percent decline in employment over the year: Roscommon County (-8.1 percent), Gogebic County (-5.6 percent), and Missaukee County (-5.5 percent). Notably, each of these three counties had less than 6,000 employees in December 2025. Twenty-one counties saw a decrease in employment of at least 1.0 percent over the year, but only nine of those counties saw a decline of more than 2.0 percent.
The average weekly wage increased to $1,427 from $1,369. Muskegon County recorded the greatest county increase of $135 over the same period. Ogemaw County (+$127), Calhoun County (+$125), and Chippewa County (+$122) also saw an increase of at least $120 in their average weekly wages. Forty-seven counties had a greater over-the-year increase in average weekly wages than the state’s $58 increase. Overall, 81 counties saw an increase in their average weekly wages.
All but two of Michigan’s counties had an increase in average weekly wages from December 2024 to December 2025. Alcona County saw a significant shift in average weekly wages with a decline of $149 over the year ($995 to $846). Arenac County, the only other county to decline, saw a dip of $18 in comparison. Both counties saw an increase in employment of at least 1 percent over the same period.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, Michigan’s average weekly wages increased by 4.2 percent statewide. Ogemaw County had the largest percentage growth with a 14.6 percent increase. Nine counties had an increase in average weekly wages of at least 10 percent over the year. Sixty-one counties saw a percentage increase larger than the Michigan average (+4.2 percent).
Alcona County had the largest decrease in average weekly wages over the year, both numerically and by percentage (-$149, -15 percent). Arenac County saw a 1.8 percent decline over the same period.
Nationally, the three largest counties by total covered employment at the end of 2025 were Los Angeles County, CA, Cook County, IL, and New York County, NY. The average weekly wages in these counties increased over the year, with rates of 3.6 percent, 3.2 percent, and 5.8 percent, respectively. Michigan’s largest counties followed a similar trend, with Oakland County (+3.0 percent), Wayne County (+4.1 percent), and Kent County (+5.7 percent) all seeing similar percentage increases in average weekly wages. All three national counties saw an increase of 0.6 percent in terms of employment, while only Kent County saw an increase (+0.4 percent) over the year.
Percentage Change in Average Weekly Wages by County, Total Covered Employment, December 2024 to December 2025
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Michigan employment grew by 600 employees between December 2024 and December 2025. Michigan’s average weekly wages increased by $58 across the state, a 4.2 percent increase. Forty-seven counties saw an increase in employment over the year. All but two counties saw an increase in average weekly wages.
Year-to-year variations in industry and county data can be due to the impact of administrative changes that are not related to actual economic events. These revisions include reclassification of industry codes and adjustments to county geographic codes that will create year-to-year series breaks in employment and wage levels.
