Dan Martin / news@whmi.com


Michigan’s regional unemployment rates are down slightly according to the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

Data released Thursday says the rates, which are not seasonally adjusted, declined in 13 Michigan labor markets.

According to Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, “Michigan regional unemployment rates generally exhibited more declines despite auto-related layoffs throughout the state in October. “However, a prominent unemployment rate increase, coupled with decreases in employment and payroll jobs, was seen in the Detroit metro area over the month.”

Regional October jobless rates ranged from 3.2 to 4.9 percent. Thirteen regions displayed rate decreases, with a minor median decrease of 0.1 percentage points. Unemployment rates rose in three areas over the month. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan statistical area (MSA) demonstrated the largest unemployment rate advance with a rate increase of 0.7 percentage points. The Northeast Lower Michigan region jobless rate was unchanged during October.

Eleven Michigan labor market areas exhibited jobless rate declines over the year, with a median rate reduction of 0.2 percentage points. Unemployment rates advanced in the Detroit, Lansing, and Monroe MSAs and remained unchanged in the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Niles MSAs since October 2022.

Fourteen Michigan labor market areas exhibited employment advances over the month, with a median increase of 2.0 percent. The Detroit metro area was the only Michigan region to demonstrate an employment decline over the month (-1.8 percent). Employment in the Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan regions remained unchanged since September.

Total employment increased in all 17 Michigan regions over the year, with a median increase of 5.4 percent.