Jobless rates moved down in 14 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas between October and November, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
“Employment rose in most regional labor markets in November,” said Wayne Rourke,
associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.
“However, seasonal employment reductions occurred in the Northeast and Northwest
Lower Michigan regions and the Upper Peninsula.”
Regional unemployment rate decreases ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 percentage points in
November. Seasonal rate increases were recorded in the Upper Peninsula and
Northeast Lower Michigan region. The jobless rate was unchanged in the Northwest
Lower Michigan region during November.
Regional unemployment rates fall over year
All 17 Michigan regions exhibited jobless rate reductions over the year, with a median
decrease of 1.3 percentage points.
November regional jobless rates remained above pre-pandemic November 2019 levels.
All 17 labor market areas had jobless rate increases over the past two years, with a
median advance of 1.5 percentage points.
Employment up over month, down since pre-pandemic levels
Fourteen labor market areas had employment advances over the month. Increases
ranged from 0.4 to 2.1 percent, with a median addition of 1.2 percent. The Northeast
and Northwest Lower Michigan regions and the Upper Peninsula all recorded seasonal
employment declines in November.
All 17 Michigan regions registered employment levels below pre-pandemic November
2019 totals, with a median decrease of 6.8 percent over the two-year period.
Labor Force levels increase over month, decrease over year
Fourteen Michigan regions recorded workforce gains between October and November,
with a median advance of 0.7 percent. The Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan
regions and the Upper Peninsula all had seasonal labor force decreases over the
month.
All 17 labor market areas recorded workforce cuts since November 2020.
County unemployment rates decline over month and year
Fifty-five Michigan counties exhibited jobless rate decreases over the month. Eighty-one
counties displayed unemployment rate drops over the year.
Michigan counties ranked by unemployment rate – November 2021
1 Livingston County 2.5 43 Van Buren County 4.7
2 Oakland County 2.8 44 Mecosta County 4.8
3 Ottawa County 3.2 45 Tuscola County 4.8
4 Clinton County 3.3 46 Wexford County 4.8
5 Washtenaw County 3.4 47 Benzie County 4.9
6 St. Clair County 3.5 48 Iron County 4.9
7 Allegan County 3.6 49 Wayne County 4.9
8 Barry County 3.6 50 Bay County 5.0
9 Ionia County 3.6 51 Delta County 5.1
10 Lapeer County 3.6 52 Emmet County 5.1
11 Macomb County 3.6 53 Calhoun County 5.4
12 Kent County 3.7 54 Antrim County 5.6
13 Menominee County 3.7 55 Otsego County 5.6
14 Cass County 3.8 56 Manistee County 5.7
15 Eaton County 3.8 57 Mason County 5.7
16 Grand Traverse County 3.8 58 Gladwin County 5.8
17 Midland County 3.8 59 Chippewa County 5.9
18 Dickinson County 3.9 60 Saginaw County 5.9
19 Houghton County 3.9 61 Alcona County 6.1
20 Kalamazoo County 3.9 62 Crawford County 6.1
21 Branch County 4.0 63 Iosco County 6.2
22 Huron County 4.0 64 Kalkaska County 6.2
23 Isabella County 4.0 65 Luce County 6.2
24 Leelanau County 4.0 66 Oceana County 6.2
25 St. Joseph County 4.0 67 Presque Isle County 6.2
26 Ingham County 4.1 68 Clare County 6.4
27 Marquette County 4.2 69 Genesee County 6.4
28 Missaukee County 4.2 70 Keweenaw County 6.4
29 Hillsdale County 4.3 71 Muskegon County 6.5
30 Montcalm County 4.3 72 Ogemaw County 6.6
31 Gogebic County 4.4 73 Ontonagon County 6.6
32 Gratiot County 4.4 74 Baraga County 6.9
33 Lenawee County 4.4 75 Oscoda County 6.9
34 Osceola County 4.4 76 Schoolcraft County 6.9
35 Shiawassee County 4.4 77 Arenac County 7.0
36 Alpena County 4.5 78 Lake County 7.0
37 Charlevoix County 4.5 79 Cheboygan County 7.2
38 Newaygo County 4.5 80 Alger County 7.8
39 Sanilac County 4.5 81 Roscommon County 8.3
40 Berrien County 4.6 82 Montmorency County 8.9
41 Jackson County 4.7 83 Mackinac County 9.0
42 Monroe County 4.7
