LANSING, Mich. – Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell in 17 of Michigan’s 18 labor market areas in February, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Michigan regional jobless rate declines were largely influenced by workforce decreases in February,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll jobs advanced in all metro areas over the month.”
Michigan regional jobless rates ranged from 3.7 to 8.7 percent in February, with a median rate decline of 0.5 percentage points. The most pronounced rate decrease occurred in the Flint metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The Detroit MSA was the only region to exhibit an unemployment rate increase over the month (+0.3 percentage points).
Seventeen Michigan labor market areas demonstrated unemployment rate reductions over the year, with a median rate decrease of 1.1 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate decline occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-2.1 percentage points). The Detroit metro area exhibited a minor jobless rate increase over the year.
Total employment down over month and year
Total employment was reduced in 10 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median decrease of 0.3 percent. Six regions demonstrated employment gains in February, and the Battle Creek and Jackson metro area employment totals remained unchanged since January.
Seventeen Michigan regions exhibited employment reductions over the year, with a median decline of 2.7 percent. The largest over-the-year employment decrease occurred in the Midland metro area (-5.9 percent).
Regional workforce levels down over month and year
Regional labor force totals fell in 17 Michigan labor market areas in February, with a median decrease of 0.6 percent. The largest labor force reduction occurred in the Saginaw MSA (-1.5 percent).
Regional workforce levels were reduced in 17 regions over the year, with a median decline of 3.8 percent. The Midland metro area demonstrated the most pronounced over-the-year labor force decrease of 6.2 percent.
Regional payroll employment up in February
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted payroll jobs advanced by 19,000, or 0.4 percent, during February. Industries with the largest over-the-month employment gains included government (+17,000) and professional and business services (+6,000).
Nonfarm employment rose in all 15 Michigan metro areas over the month, with a median increase of 0.2 percent. The region with the largest over-the-month increase in payroll jobs occurred in the Flint MSA (+2.5 percent), as jobs rebounded after a temporary localized manufacturing layoff.
Michigan total payroll employment receded by 9,000, or 0.2 percent, over the year. Nine metro areas displayed nonfarm job increases over the year, led by the Traverse City metro area (+4.1 percent).
County unemployment rates down over month and year
Seventy-three Michigan counties exhibited unemployment rate declines during February, with a median rate reduction of 0.6 percentage points. Unemployment rates fell in 77 Michigan counties over the year.
Detailed data will be available for viewing and download with the MCDA Data Search tool by noon.
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.
Note to editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.”
Note on data revisions: The data in this release reflects recently revised historical estimates. All states in the nation participate in this revision process facilitated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Labor force estimates for Michigan counties have been revised for all months of 2025. Revised data will be released in coming weeks for 2021–2024.
In addition, all unadjusted payroll job data for Michigan and all metro areas was revised for 2024 and 2025. For certain industries with larger historical revisions, unadjusted payroll job data was revised for multiple years, some back to 1990. For newly revised data, go to www.milmi.org/datasearch.
Previously published data for these years should be discarded and replaced with the new series.
