April O'Neil / news@WHMI.com

Press Release:

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 4.3 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.

Total employment in the state advanced by 3,000, while unemployment remained constant over the month, resulting in a minor workforce increase of 3,000 in January.

“Michigan’s labor market saw little movement between December and January,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director of Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics. “The state’s unemployment rate remained flat, while payroll jobs rose slightly.”

The national unemployment rate declined by one-tenth of a percentage point between December 2022 and January 2023 to 3.4 percent. Michigan’s January jobless rate was nine-tenths of a percentage point above the national rate.

Over the year, the U.S. unemployment rate receded by 0.6 percentage points, while Michigan’s rate decreased slightly by one-tenth of a percentage point since January 2022.

Labor force trends and highlights:
• As a result of the annual revision process, Michigan’s 2022 annual average jobless rate is now 4.2 percent.
• Unemployment in the state remained unchanged in January, while national unemployment fell by 0.5 percent over the month.
• Over the year, total employment in the state rose by 0.5 percent, while employment in the U.S. advanced by 1.9 percent.
• The January statewide labor force participation rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point to 59.8 percent, while Michigan’s employment-population ratio remained unchanged at 57.2 percent.

Detroit metro area unemployment rate increases in January
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.8 percent over the month. The region’s workforce remained unchanged in January.

The Detroit MSA jobless rate fell by 0.7 percentage points over the year. Employment edged down by 6,000 and unemployment was reduced by 15,000, resulting in a workforce reduction of 21,000 over the year.

Michigan payroll jobs edge up slightly over the month
According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment advanced by 13,000, or 0.3 percent, during January. The total nonfarm job count was 4,403,000, with minor employment increases occurring throughout multiple industries.

Industry employment trends and highlights
• January marked the third consecutive month of seasonally adjusted job gains in the state.
• On a numerical basis, industries with the largest employment gains included trade, transportation, and utilities (+3,000) and education and health services (+3,000).
• Industries with the largest over-the-year payroll job gains included government (+22,000); education and health services (+20,000); and leisure and hospitality (+20,000).
• Financial activities were the only statewide sector to exhibit a decrease in payroll jobs over the year (-4,000).
• Total nonfarm jobs rose by 97,000, or 2.3 percent, since January 2022.

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