LANSING – Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates decreased in 16 of Michigan’s 17 labor market areas over the month, according to data released Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
”Michigan labor market areas demonstrated expected unemployment rate reductions during September,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Regional payroll jobs gains largely reflected seasonal hiring in education-related industries due to the start of the academic year.”
Michigan regional jobless rates ranged from 3.5 to 5.2 percent in September, with a median rate reduction of 0.6 percentage points. The largest over-the-month rate decline occurred in the Monroe metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The Detroit metro area was the only region to exhibit a jobless rate increase over the month (+0.2 percentage points).
All 17 Michigan regions displayed unemployment rate gains over the year, with a median rate increase of half a percentage point. The Battle Creek and Muskegon MSAs each demonstrated the largest over-the-year rate gain (+0.7 percentage points).
Fifteen Michigan labor market areas exhibited employment increases over the month, with a median employment gain of 1.5 percent. The most pronounced over-the-month employment advance occurred in the Lansing MSA (+3.0 percent).
Sixteen Michigan regions demonstrated employment gains over the year, with a median increase of 1.5 percent. The largest hike occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with employment rising by 2.7 percent since September 2023.
Labor force levels rose in 14 Michigan regions over the month, with a median increase of 0.9 percent. The largest over-the-month labor force gain occurred in the Lansing MSA (+2.3 percent).
Sixteen regions exhibited labor force gains over the year, with a median increase of 1.8 percent. The most pronounced over-the-year workforce gain occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+3.3 percent).
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan not seasonally adjusted payroll employment rose by 17,000, or 0.4 percent, between August and September. The largest over-the-month employment gain overwhelmingly occurred in the state’s government sector, largely due to hiring for the fall semester at local schools and universities (+46,000).
Payroll jobs advanced in ten Michigan metro areas over the month, with a median increase of 0.9 percent. The largest employment gain occurred in the Monroe MSA (+2.6 percent). Payroll employment fell in three areas during September and remained unchanged in the Muskegon metro area.
Michigan total nonfarm employment rose by 36,000, or 0.8 percent, over the year. Eight metro areas displayed payroll gains during this period, while four regions exhibited nonfarm employment reductions. Payroll jobs were unchanged in the Battle Creek and Niles metro areas since September 2023.
Seventy-seven Michigan counties demonstrated unemployment rate reductions over the month, with a median decrease of 0.6 percentage points. Seventy-nine Michigan counties exhibited jobless rate increases since September 2023.