As expected, more Michiganders joined the potential workforce in May, many of them looking for Summer jobs. Almost automatically that pushed the jobless rate upward across all but one of Michigan’s 17 market areas. That’s according to the Michigan Department of Management,, Technology and Budget.
“Regional jobless rates advanced in May as residents began entering the summer job market,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Payroll employment rose in most metro areas over the month.”
Michigan regional unemployment rates ranged from 3.1 to 5.8 percent in May, with a median jobless rate increase of 0.9 percentage points over the month. The Northeast Lower Michigan region was the only Michigan labor market area to exhibit a decrease in its jobless rate over the month, with a seasonal decline of 0.5 percentage points since April.
Here in the ‘Niles-Benton Harbor’ labor market area non-seasonally adjusted unemployment increased from 2,500 persons in April to 3,200 in May. That translates to 4.3%, up from 3.4% in April.
Unemployment rates decreased in 10 Michigan labor market areas over the year, with a median rate reduction of 0.2 percentage points. Jobless rates advanced in four Michigan regions over the year and remained unchanged in the Kalamazoo, Niles-Benton Harbor, and Northeast Lower Michigan regions since May 2022.
Regional employment levels up over month and year
Employment increased in 15 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with a median increase of 1.0 percent. The largest over-the-month employment increase occurred in the Northeast Lower Michigan region. Employment edged down slightly over the month in the Ann Arbor metro area (-0.8 percent) and remained unchanged in the Saginaw metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
Total employment rose in all 17 Michigan regions over the year, with a median increase of 3.0 percent. The largest over-the-year employment gain occurred in the Lansing MSA (+5.3 percent).
Regional workforce levels up over month and year
Labor force levels increased in all 17 Michigan labor market areas over the month, ranging from 0.5 percent in the Ann Arbor region to 5.9 percent in the Northwest Lower Michigan region.
Michigan labor force totals advanced in all 17 regions over the year, with a median increase of 3.0 percent. The Ann Arbor MSA demonstrated the largest over-the-year labor force gain of 4.9 percent.
