Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates declined in 10 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas during December and increased seasonally in northern regions of the state, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (see technical note at the end of this release).
“Regional labor market conditions continued to show evidence of recovery in 2021,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “However, despite employment advances over the past year, jobless rates still remained above pre-pandemic levels.”
Unemployment rate declines were minor, with a median decrease of two-tenths of a percentage point. Jobless rate increases occurred in five labor market areas over the month, led by the Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan regions with rates advancing by 0.9 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively. Unemployment rates were unchanged in December in the Kalamazoo and Midland metro regions.
Regional jobless rates decrease since December 2020
All 17 major Michigan labor markets recorded unemployment rate declines since December 2020, with a large median reduction of 2.2 percentage points.
Michigan regional jobless rates in December remained higher than pre-pandemic December 2019 rates, with a median increase of 1.3 percentage points.
Employment levels display mixed trends over month and year
Regional employment levels were little changed in most metro areas in December. Employment moved up in eight labor market areas in December and declined in five regions. The most pronounced change occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with a seasonal employment cut of 2.3 percent in December. The Battle Creek, Detroit, Jackson, and Midland metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) all had no change in employment over the month.
Total employment rose in nine regions, fell in eight over the year.
All 17 Michigan regional employment levels were below pre-pandemic December 2019 totals, with a median reduction of 5.5 percent over this period.
County jobless rates increase over month, decrease over year
Fifty-nine Michigan counties registered hikes in unemployment rates over the month. Fifteen areas recorded rate decreases, while nine areas had no jobless rate change in December. All 83 counties displayed unemployment rate declines over the year.
In Berrien County, officially the Niles-Benton Harbor Labor Market Area, unemployment inched downward from 4.7 to 4.6 percent. The number of persons employed increased by 400, while the number of unemployed stayed the same, at 3,300.
Source: Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget release
