October 08, 2026
Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate inched up by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.0 percent during August.
The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged between July and August at 4.1 percent. Michigan’s August unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points higher than the national rate. The national jobless rate declined by 0.2 percentage points over the year, while the statewide rate rose by 0.1 percentage points since August 2025. Michigan had the fourth highest unemployment rate in the nation during August, behind Oregon, Connecticut, and California.
Michigan’s total workforce receded by 0.5 percent over the month, while the national labor force rose by 0.4 percent during August. Total statewide employment declined by 0.5 percent, while the U.S. employment level grew by 0.4 percent. The total number of unemployed people in the state was unchanged during August, while the national unemployment total advanced by 1.7 percent.
Over the year, Michigan’s labor force declined by 3.2 percent, a decrease 2.6 percentage points greater than the workforce decline seen nationally (-0.6 percent). Statewide employment fell by 3.2 percent, while the U.S. employment level decreased by 0.4 percent. The number of unemployed people in Michigan declined by 2.0 percent over the year, while the national number of unemployed receded by 4.7 percent since August 2025.
Author:
Seasonally Adjusted
Note: October 2025 data is unavailable due to interruption in household survey data collection.
Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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.
