Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
Unemployment rates increased across all 18 of Michigan’s labor market areas in January, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Wayne Rourke, director of labor market information for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, attributed the increases to typical seasonal trends, noting that payroll jobs also declined over the month.
Jobless rates across the state ranged from 4.3 percent to 9.2 percent, with a median increase of 0.8 percentage points. The largest monthly increase was recorded in the Flint metropolitan area. Over the year, however, 10 regions saw unemployment rates decline, with the most significant drop in Northeast Lower Michigan, while rates remained unchanged in the Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, and Grand Rapids metro areas.
Employment levels fell in all 18 regions in January, with a median monthly decline of 0.6 percent. The steepest drops occurred in the Flint and Lansing metro areas, each down 2.3 percent. Over the year, employment declined in 16 regions, led by a 6.3 percent decrease in the Midland area. Meanwhile, labor force levels rose in 13 regions over the month but declined statewide compared to a year earlier.
Statewide non-farm payroll employment decreased by 83,000 jobs, or 1.9 percent, from December to January, with the largest losses in trade, transportation, and utilities, as well as government. Payroll jobs declined in all 15 metro areas during the month, though total employment statewide was little changed over the year. County-level data showed unemployment rates increased in 82 counties in January but declined in 59 counties compared to a year earlier.
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