Michigan Department of Technology Management and : December Unemployment Rates Down Slightly in Majority of Michigan's Regional Labor Markets

LMI - Regional Release 1282016

RICK SNYDER	STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET	DAVID B. BEHEN
GOVERNOR	LANSING	DIRECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 28, 2016

Contact: Kurt Weiss, 517-335-0050

December Unemployment Rates Down Slightly in Majority of Michigan's Regional Labor Markets

Lansing - Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in December declined slightly over the month in the majority of the state's 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment rose slightly in most regions over the month, while labor force levels were mixed and little changed.

"Michigan's local labor markets were very stable in December," said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. "Overall in 2015, nearly all local areas in the state recorded solid labor market improvement, with fairly uniform and significant unemployment rate reductions."

From November to December, unemployment rates declined slightly in 12 areas, with reductions ranging from -0.1 to -0.4 of a percentage point with a modest median decrease of -0.2 of a percentage point. Jobless rates increased moderately in four areas over the month, highlighted by seasonal advances in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (+0.5) and the Northwest Lower Michigan region (+0.3). The unemployment rate for the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was unchanged over the month. In December, 13 of the state's 17 major regions displayed unemployment rates below the national seasonally unadjusted rate of 4.8 percent.

Annual Average Unemployment Rates Fall Over Year

Preliminary annual average data indicated that jobless rates fell significantly from 2014 to 2015 in all major regions of the state (see page 7). Annual unemployment rate declines ranged from -1.2 to -

2.3 percentage points with a median drop of -1.7 percentage points. The largest rate reductions over this period occurred in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA and the Northeast Lower Michigan region, with both area's rates decreasing by -2.3 percentage points. The unemployment rate declines over the year in Michigan's major labor markets compared favorably to the -0.9 of a percentage point reduction nationally since 2014.

Total Employment Up Over Month, Year

From November to December, total employment increased slightly in ten areas. Advances ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 percent with a minor median gain of 0.2 percent. In December, six regions recorded mostly moderate total employment reductions, with the largest over-the-month declines reported in the Northeast Lower Michigan region (-0.8%), the Upper Peninsula (-0.6%), and the Lansing-East Lansing MSA (-0.6%). Total employment was essentially unchanged in the Flint MSA over the month.

Since December 2014, total employment was up significantly in all 17 regions. Gains over this period ranged from 1.1 to 4.6 percent with a median increase of 2.5 percent. The largest total employment advances from December 2014 to December 2015 took place in the Grand Rapids- Wyoming, Kalamazoo-Portage, and Muskegon MSAs.

Page 2, December Rates

Labor Force Levels Stable Over Month, Up Over Year

From November to December, workforce levels were little changed throughout most areas of the state. Eight regions recorded mostly minor labor force reductions and seven areas posted marginal gains. Workforce changes over this period were limited to plus or minus 0.4 percent with the exception of the -0.9 percent decline in the Lansing-East Lansing MSA. December labor force levels were essentially unchanged in the Flint and Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSAs.

Since December 2014, workforce levels rose in 15 regions, with a significant median advance of 1.5 percent. Labor force levels were little changed in the Flint MSA and Upper Peninsula over the year.

Seasonal Decline in December Payroll Jobs

The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan fell by 16,000 or 0.4 percent in December to 4,319,000. December job reductions were mainly seasonal, led by a 9,000 decrease in construction. Other notable over-the-month declines were registered in professional and business services (-7,000) and government (-5,000). Somewhat offsetting the December reductions was a 7,000 job gain in trade, transportation and utilities. The state's remaining industry sectors showed only minimal changes over the month.

Within trade, transportation and utilities, retail trade jobs rose by 3,000 in December as merchants continued hiring for the holiday season. Over the holiday hiring season from September to December, jobs in retail rose by 14,000 in 2015, which was somewhat less than the 16,000 gain over the same period in 2014.

From November to December, payroll jobs declined seasonally in 12 of the state's 14 metropolitan regions. Area job reductions were mostly minor, with a median decrease of -0.3 percent. The largest over-the-month drops were posted in the Monroe (-1.4%) and Lansing-East Lansing (-1.3%) MSAs. The Ann Arbor and Saginaw MSAs showed slight overall job gains in December.

From December 2014 to December 2015, seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs increased statewide by 81,000 or 1.9 percent. Nine of the state's 11 major sectors added jobs over the year and were led by gains in manufacturing (+19,000), education and health services (+19,000), professional and business services (+13,000), and construction (+11,000).

Since December 2014, payroll jobs rose in 13 of the 14 metropolitan regions of the state, with a median job gain of 2.1 percent. Eleven of the metro areas recorded gains over 1.0 percent. Payroll jobs were down slightly over the year in the Flint MSA (-0.2%).

County Jobless Rates Mixed Over Month, Down Over Year

Just over half of Michigan's 83 counties recorded seasonal unemployment rate increases in December, most located in the state's northern areas. Jobless rates declined slightly over the month in 29 counties, while the rates in 11 counties were unchanged. From December 2014 to December 2015, jobless rates fell in 82 of the state's counties. The median decline over this period was 1.3 percentage points. Schoolcraft County continued to post a minor over-the-year rate increase due to a layoff event.

Note: Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted. As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data. A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted December workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for December.

Note to Editors: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads "Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget."

Page 3, December Rates

Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
ANN ARBOR MSA	month	year
(Washtenaw County)
Civilian Labor Force	186,900	191,200	191,300	0.1%	2.4%
Total Employment	180,700	185,500	186,300	0.4%	3.1%
Unemployment	6,300	5,600	4,900	-12.5%	-22.2%
Rate (percent)	3.3	2.9	2.6
Contact: Luke Bunge, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
BATTLE CREEK MSA	month	year
(Calhoun County)
Civilian Labor Force	64,000	65,000	64,900	-0.2%	1.4%
Total Employment	60,900	62,300	62,400	0.2%	2.5%
Unemployment	3,100	2,700	2,500	-7.4%	-19.4%
Rate (percent)	4.8	4.1	3.9
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
BAY CITY MSA	month	year
(Bay County)
Civilian Labor Force	53,000	53,200	53,400	0.4%	0.8%
Total Employment	50,000	50,900	51,100	0.4%	2.2%
Unemployment	3,000	2,300	2,300	0.0%	-23.3%
Rate (percent)	5.6	4.3	4.3
Contact: Kevin Doyle, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN MSA	month	year
(Data in thousands)
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer,
Livingston, St. Clair counties)
Civilian Labor Force	2,003	2,002	2,005	0.1%	0.1%
Total Employment	1,874	1,898	1,896	-0.1%	1.2%
Unemployment	129	105	109	3.8%	-15.5%
Rate (percent)	6.5	5.2	5.4
Contact: Jim Rhein, DTMB Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
FLINT MSA	month	year
(Genesee County)
Civilian Labor Force	184,700	184,500	184,500	0.0%	-0.1%
Total Employment	174,000	175,700	176,000	0.2%	1.1%
Unemployment	10,700	8,800	8,500	-3.4%	-20.6%
Rate (percent)	5.8	4.8	4.6
Contact: Kevin Doyle, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone] (more)

Page 4, December Rates
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA	month	year
(Barry, Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa counties)
Civilian Labor Force	541,900	561,500	561,700	0.0%	3.7%
Total Employment	521,800	544,700	546,000	0.2%	4.6%
Unemployment	20,100	16,800	15,600	-7.1%	-22.4%
Rate (percent)	3.7	3.0	2.8
Contact: Michelle Wein, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
JACKSON MSA	month	year
(Jackson County)
Civilian Labor Force	72,300	72,900	72,800	-0.1%	0.7%
Total Employment	68,600	69,800	69,900	0.1%	1.9%
Unemployment	3,700	3,000	2,900	-3.3%	-21.6%
Rate (percent)	5.1	4.2	4.0
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA	month	year
(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties)
Civilian Labor Force	162,100	166,400	166,600	0.1%	2.8%
Total Employment	154,500	160,200	160,700	0.3%	4.0%
Unemployment	7,600	6,200	5,900	-4.8%	-22.4%
Rate (percent)	4.7	3.7	3.5
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA	month	year
(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)
Civilian Labor Force	239,800	244,500	242,400	-0.9%	1.1%
Total Employment	229,800	236,200	234,700	-0.6%	2.1%
Unemployment	10,000	8,300	7,700	-7.2%	-23.0%
Rate (percent)	4.2	3.4	3.2
Contact: Luke Bunge, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone]
Dec-14	Nov-15	Dec-15	% change	% change
MIDLAND MSA	month	year
(Midland County)
Civilian Labor Force	41,200	41,700	41,800	0.2%	1.5%
Total Employment	39,300	40,100	40,200	0.2%	2.3%
Unemployment	1,900	1,600	1,600	0.0%	-15.8%
Rate (percent)	4.6	3.9	3.8
Contact: Kevin Doyle, DTMB Regional Economic Analyst [phone] (more)