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Jan jobless rates advance in all Michigan regional labor market areas

Michigan Business Network
March 20, 2020 11:00 AM

DTMB-2

LANSING, Mich. -- January seasonally unadjusted jobless rates rose in each of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to data released today from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB)

“Michigan’s regional labor markets were influenced by seasonal job reductions in January,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “However, unemployment rates fell in all regions over the year.”

January jobless rate gains throughout the state’s labor market areas ranged from 0.4 to 2.2 percentage points, with a median increase of 0.9 percentage points. The most pronounced over-the-month movements were seen in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+2.2) and the Monroe (+1.3) and Bay City (+1.3) metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Michigan’s nonseasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.3 percent was three-tenths above the national rate of 4.0 percent.

Jobless rates down over year

Since January 2019, regional unemployment rates in Michigan declined in all 17 labor market areas, with a median reduction of 0.7 percentage points. The largest over-the year-rate cut occurred in the Lansing-East Lansing MSA (-1.1).

Total employment down over month, up over year

Over the month, total employment fell in 15 of Michigan’s 17 regions. Employment cuts ranged from 0.3 to 1.6 percent, with a median reduction of 0.9 percent. Notable over-the-month declines occurred in the Upper Peninsula (-1.6 percent), Battle Creek (-1.3 percent), and Saginaw (-1.3 percent) regions. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA was the only region to exhibit an employment increase over the month (+0.1 percent), while the Niles-Benton Harbor region employment level remained unchanged since December 2019.

Over the year, total employment advanced in 14 regions and fell in three. The largest over-the-year gain was seen in the Ann Arbor MSA (+2.9 percent). The Midland (-1.3 percent), Bay City (-0.4 percent), and Battle Creek (-0.2 percent) MSAs all exhibited employment declines since January 2019. 

Labor force levels up over month and year

In January, workforce levels advanced in 10 regions, fell in six, and remained unchanged in the Flint MSA. The largest over-the-month labor force increase occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+1.6 percent). Labor force declines were led by the Battle Creek region (-0.8 percent).

Over the year, labor force levels rose in 11 regions. The Ann Arbor MSA exhibited the largest workforce increase since January 2019, up by 2.2 percent. Five regions demonstrated labor force declines. The most pronounced workforce drops were seen in the Bay City (-1.2 percent) and Midland (-1.2 percent) regions. The workforce in the Grand Rapids region was little changed over the year.

January payroll jobs down seasonally

The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan fell by 92,000 (-2.1 percent) in January to 4,373,000. The largest monthly job declines on a numerical basis occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (-26,000) and government (-23,000).

Payroll employment receded in all 14 Michigan metro regions in January. Regional job reductions ranged from 1.3 to 3.4 percent. The largest over-the-month percentage job decrease was seen in the Saginaw MSA (-3.4 percent). 

Since January 2019, unadjusted payroll jobs rose statewide by 17,000 or 0.4 percent.  Seven metro regions advanced in employment over this period, led by the Ann Arbor MSA (+2.5 percent). Six regions demonstrated percent declines in nonfarm employment, led by the Midland MSA (-1.9 percent). The Lansing metro region’s payroll employment level was stable over the year.

County jobless rates up over month, down over year

Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties exhibited unemployment rate increases in January, with a median gain of 1.1 percentage points. Alger, Keweenaw, and Menominee counties in the Upper Peninsula all exhibited jobless rate reductions in January, while rates in Luce and Ontonagon counties remained unchanged. Over the year, rates fell in 80 counties, with a median decline of 0.8 percentage points. Gogebic County exhibited a jobless rate increase, while Dickinson and Montmorency counties had no rate changes since January 2019.  

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 seasonally unadjusted January workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for January.

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

Note about data revisions:

The data in this release reflects recently revised historical estimates. All states in the nation participate in this revision process, which is facilitated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Labor force estimates for Michigan counties have been revised for all months of 2019. Revised data will be released in coming weeks for 2015–2018.

In addition, unadjusted payroll job data for Michigan and all metro areas was revised for 2018 and 2019. Certain industries had more extensive data revisions, some back to 1990. For newly revised data, go to www.milmi.org/datasearch or contact DTMB at 313-456-3090.

Previously published data for these years should be replaced with these new series.

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