Michigan unemployment rate remains unchanged in May

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the month, remaining at 4.3 percent since April, according to data released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Employment in the state rose by 18,000 over the month and unemployment edged down by 2,000, resulting in a slight labor force advance of 16,000 since April.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate has remained relatively unchanged for the past three months,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “During this time, however, the state’s labor force has climbed by nearly 1 percent, or 45,000 workers.”

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged for the third consecutive month at 3.6 percent. Michigan’s May jobless rate was 0.7 percentage points larger than the national rate. The U.S. jobless rate decreased by 2.2 percentage points over the year, while the statewide rate fell by 1.9 percentage points since May 2021.

—Labor force trends and highlights

• Michigan employment advanced by 0.4 percent over the month, an increase 0.2 percentage points larger than the increase seen nationally (+0.2 percent).

• Total employment in Michigan was at its highest level since March 2020.

• Unemployment in the state was reduced by 30.5 percent over the year, while the U.S. unemployment level fell by 35.7 percent since May 2021.

• Michigan’s workforce advanced by 1.6 percent over the year, an increase six-tenths of a percentage point smaller than that exhibited on a national level (+2.2 percent).

—Detroit metro area jobless rate recedes over month

Similar to the statewide jobless rate movement, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged between April and May at 4.6 percent. Employment in the region remained unchanged over the month, while unemployment was reduced by 1,000, resulting in a workforce little changed over the month.  

The Detroit MSA jobless rate decreased by 2.1 percentage points over the year. The number of employed rose by 78,000, and the total unemployment level receded by 43,000 since May of 2021.  

—Michigan payroll jobs decrease slightly over month

According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment receded modestly by 15,000, or 0.3 percent, over the month, resulting in a statewide job total of 4,312,000. Minor job declines were seen across multiple statewide industries.   

—Industry employment trends and highlights

• Payroll employment edged down for the second consecutive month during May. Since December, nonfarm employment rose by 23,000, or 0.5 percent.

• Statewide industries exhibiting minor over-the-month advances in employment included other services and professional and business services.

• Jobs in the state’s government sector were reduced over the month (-3,000) largely due to declines in state government employment as local schools and universities began closing for the summer.

• Michigan total nonfarm jobs rose by 151,000, or 3.6 percent, over the year. National payroll employment advanced by nearly a full percentage point more (+4.5 percent) during the same period.

• Payroll employment gains occurred in most major Michigan industry sectors since May 2021.

• On a numerical basis, the most pronounced over-the-year job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality (+42,000) and professional and business services (+30,000).