Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate advanced by three-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 4.4 percent during July, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Employment was reduced by 6,000 over the month, while unemployment increased by 16,000, resulting in a labor force gain of 10,000 during July.
“The uptick in Michigan’s jobless rate reflected an increase in both unemployment and the total workforce during July,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Industry employment was mixed over the month which resulted in a slight decline in payroll jobs.”
The national unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points over the month to 4.3 percent. Michigan’s July jobless rate was one-tenth of a percentage point larger than the U.S. rate. Over the year, the national unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points, while the statewide rate increased by 0.6 percentage points since July 2023.
Labor force trends and highlights
July was the second consecutive month with a statewide increase in unemployment rate.
Total unemployment in the state rose by 7.8 percent over the month, while the national unemployment level advanced by 5.2 percent.
Michigan’s over-the-year workforce gain of 0.7 percent was similar to the labor force gain seen nationally between July 2023 and July 2024 (+0.8 percent).
Michigan’s July labor force level was the largest workforce total seen in the state since April 2006 (5,064,000).
The July statewide labor force participation rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point to 62.4 percent in July. Michigan’s employment-population ratio decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 59.7 percent over the month.
