Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate declined by two-tenths of a percentage point to 5.9 percent during November, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (see technical note at end of this release). Total statewide employment advanced by 11,000, and Michigan unemployment receded by 11,000. Michigan’s workforce was little changed in November.
“Michigan’s labor market indicators were relatively stable in November,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “Payroll jobs rose in Michigan for the seventh consecutive month.”
The national unemployment rate dropped sharply by four-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 4.2 percent. Michigan’s November jobless rate was 1.7 percentage points above the U.S. rate. Over the year, the U.S. jobless rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points, similar to the Michigan unemployment rate drop of 2.3 percentage points.
Monthly and annual labor force trends and highlights
The statewide workforce was essentially unchanged in November, while the national labor force edged up by 0.4 percent.
Employment in the state inched up by 0.2 percent over the month, below the monthly employment gain nationally (+0.7 percent).
Over the past year, recalls of workers from pandemic-related layoffs resulted in a sharp drop in the number of Michigan unemployed (-29.5 percent).
Michigan employment levels well below pre-pandemic counts
Michigan’s number of employed in November remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels (-265,000, or -5.6 percent).
The statewide number of unemployed, despite declining over the past year, remained 96,000, or 51.8 percent, above February 2020 levels.
Michigan’s jobless rate of 5.9 percent was 2.2 percentage points above the pre-pandemic February 2020 rate.
