LANSING, Mich. — Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in 13 Michigan labor market areas over the month, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Michigan regional unemployment rates generally exhibited minor declines despite auto-related layoffs throughout the state in October,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “However, a prominent unemployment rate increase, coupled with decreases in employment and payroll jobs, was seen in the Detroit metro area over the month.”
Regional October jobless rates ranged from 3.2 to 4.9 percent. Thirteen regions displayed rate decreases, with a minor median decrease of 0.1 percentage points. Unemployment rates rose in three areas over the month. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan statistical area (MSA) demonstrated the largest unemployment rate advance with a rate increase of 0.7 percentage points. The Northeast Lower Michigan region jobless rate was unchanged during October.
Eleven Michigan labor market areas exhibited jobless rate declines over the year, with a median rate reduction of 0.2 percentage points. Unemployment rates advanced in the Detroit, Lansing, and Monroe MSAs and remained unchanged in the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Niles MSAs since October 2022.
Regional employment up over month and year
Fourteen Michigan labor market areas exhibited employment advances over the month, with a median increase of 2.0 percent. The Detroit metro area was the only Michigan region to demonstrate an employment decline over the month (-1.8 percent). Employment in the Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan regions remained unchanged since September.
Total employment increased in all 17 Michigan regions over the year, with a median increase of 5.4 percent. The largest over-the-year employment gain occurred in the Midland MSA (+6.9 percent).
Regional workforce levels up over month and year
Regional labor force totals advanced in 14 Michigan regions over the month, with a median increase of 1.9 percent. Labor force decreases occurred in the Detroit (-1.1 percent) and Northwest Lower Michigan (-0.1 percent) regions. The Northeast Lower Michigan region workforce remained unchanged over the month.
All 17 Michigan regions exhibited workforce increases over the year, with a median increase of 5.3 percent. The Lansing metro area demonstrated the largest over-the-year labor force gain of 7.0 percent.
Regional payroll jobs advance in October
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment rose by 12,000 over the month, or 0.3 percent, resulting in a payroll job total of 4,463,000 in October. Increases in statewide industries such as education and health services and government were partially offset by employment decreases in the state’s manufacturing (-10,000), and leisure and hospitality (-6,000) sectors.
Twelve Michigan metro areas demonstrated employment gains over the month, with a median increase of 0.7 percent. Payroll employment fell in the Detroit metro area and remained unchanged in the Niles MSA.
Michigan payroll jobs advanced by 37,000, or 0.8 percent, over the year. Thirteen metro areas exhibited employment increases since October 2022, with a median increase of 1.5 percent.
County unemployment rates down over month and year
Forty-eight Michigan counties demonstrated jobless rate declines between September and October. Unemployment rates receded in 51 counties over the year.
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.”
