LANSING, Mich. -- Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates were little changed in all 17 Michigan labor market areas over the month, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.  

“Michigan regional labor markets displayed little change during October,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “Payroll jobs advanced modestly in most metro areas over the month.”

Michigan labor market area unemployment rates ranged from 3.1 to 5.4 percent during October. Six areas displayed minor rate reductions over the month, led by the Battle Creek metro area (-0.2 percentage points). The Detroit metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Monroe MSA, Northeast Lower Michigan region, and Northwest Lower Michigan region all exhibited minor rate increases of 0.1 percentage points since September. Seven labor market areas showed no change in jobless rate over the month.

Unemployment rates receded in nine Michigan regions over the year, with a median reduction of 0.3 percentage points. Seven labor market areas demonstrated jobless rate advances over the year. The Kalamazoo-Portage MSA exhibited no change in rate since October 2021.

Total employment down over month, up over year

Employment levels fell in 16 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median reduction of 1.1 percent. The largest over-the-month employment decline of 3.2 percent occurred in both the Northeast and the Northwest Lower Michigan regions. Employment in the Detroit metro area remained unchanged since September.

All 17 Michigan labor market areas displayed employment advances over the year, with a median increase of 1.7 percent. The Lansing MSA demonstrated the most pronounced over-the-year employment increase (+4.6 percent). 

Labor force levels down over month, up over year

Sixteen Michigan regions exhibited labor force declines over the month, with a median reduction of 1.2 percent. The Northwest Lower Michigan region demonstrated the most pronounced workforce reduction (-3.1 percent).

Sixteen Michigan regions exhibited workforce increases over the year, with a median increase of 1.6 percent. The Lansing MSA showed the largest over-the-year labor force advance of 4.4 percent.      

Metro area payroll jobs up during October

According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs increased by 30,000 over the month, or 0.7 percent. Michigan’s total payroll job count was 4,413,000 in October. Large employment increases in industries such as government (+13,000) and professional and business services (+12,000) were partially offset by minor decreases across multiple other sectors.    

Nine Michigan metro areas exhibited nonfarm employment increases over the month, with a median increase of 0.6 percent. The largest over-the-month job advance occurred in the Lansing MSA (+1.4 percent). Payroll jobs decreased in the Muskegon MSA and remained unchanged in the Battle Creek, Bay City, Midland, and Monroe metro areas since September. 

Michigan total nonfarm employment rose by 116,000 over the year, or 2.7 percent. Twelve metro areas demonstrated job advances over the year, with a median increase of 1.6 percent.

County jobless rate trends mixed over month, up over year

Thirty-one Michigan counties demonstrated jobless rate advances between September and October. Twenty-three areas exhibited rate declines, and 29 county unemployment rates remained unchanged over the month. Jobless rates increased in 49 counties since October 2021.

For more detailed information, including data tables, view the full release.  

Note: Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted. As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data.

A breakdown of not seasonally adjusted October workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a ranking of county jobless rates for October.    

Note to editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”

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