Michigan’s March Unemployment Rate Falls

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March declined over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.5 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB).  Total employment rose by 17,000 over the month while the number of unemployed decreased by 14,000.  The state’s labor force moved slightly upward by 3,000 in March.

The Michigan jobless rate in March 2013 was half of a percentage point below the state’s March 2012 rate of 9.0 percent.  The national jobless rate decreased by six-tenths of a percentage point over this period.  The state’s unemployment rate in March was nine-tenths of a percentage point above the national rate of 7.6 percent.  The U.S. jobless rate edged down over the month by one-tenth of a percentage point.

“Overall, Michigan’s labor market situation in early 2013 has been positive,” said Michael Williams, acting director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.  “The state’s unemployment rate in March was the lowest recorded since mid-2008, and payroll jobs this year are the highest since the fourth quarter of 2008.”

Monthly Labor Force Trends & Highlights

·         Michigan’s jobless rate has been trending downward since the summer of 2012, decreasing by eight-tenths of a percentage point since August.

·         In March, the number of unemployed in Michigan fell below 400,000 for the first time since June 2008.

·         In the first three months of 2013, total employment in the state has advanced by 34,000 above the December level.  This employment growth is well above the flat employment trends posted in the second half of 2012.

·         From March 2012 to March 2013, the number of unemployed in Michigan declined by 26,000 or 6.2 percent, which is fairly similar to the 7.4 decrease nationally.

MICHIGAN

Labor Force Estimates

Seasonally Adjusted

(Data in Thousands)

Detroit Metropolitan Area’s March Jobless Rate Continues Downward

The Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA’s) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March declined over the month by four-tenths of a percentage point to 9.9 percent.  In March, the number of unemployed in the region fell by 9,000 as total employment increased by 4,000.  The area’s jobless rate in early 2013 has declined for three consecutive months, dropping by eight-tenths of a percentage point since December 2012.  From December to March, total employment in the region advanced by 15,000.

From March 2012 to March 2013, the Detroit metropolitan area’s jobless rate edged downward by two-tenths of a percentage point.  Over that period, total employment rose in the region by 8,000 while the number of unemployed declined slightly by 4,000.  The area’s workforce has trended upward since early 2012.

Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSA

Labor Force Estimates

Seasonally Adjusted

(Data in Thousands)

Modest Decline in March Payroll Jobs

According to the monthly survey of employers, seasonally adjusted Michigan payroll jobs edged downward in March by 7,000 to 4,057,000.  March job reductions were posted in trade, transportation and utilities (-5,000), construction (-3,000), and government (-2,000).   These declines were somewhat countered by job gains in professional and business services (+4,000).   The state’s remaining major industry sectors recorded only minor changes over the month.

Industry Employment Trends and Highlights                    

·         March’s overall job decline for the state was the first since December.  However, the March job total for Michigan remained well above totals posted in 2012.

·         The reduction in trade, transportation and utilities was due primarily to a March drop in retail trade jobs.  Even with this over-the-month decline, jobs have trended upward in this broad sector since October.

·         After a minor boost in both January and February, construction jobs fell in March to essentially the same level posted throughout the second half of 2012.

·         Jobs rose in March in professional and business services for the third consecutive month.  Since December, jobs grew in this sector by 10,000.

·         Financial activities recorded a small job gain over the month.  From March 2012 to March 2013, financial activities jobs were up 3,000 and showed a percentage increase of 1.7 percent.  This job advance places financial activities among the top three Michigan broad sectors in over-the-year percentage job growth.

·         Since March 2012, payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 33,000 or 0.8 percent.  Over this period, manufacturing (+16,000), professional and business services (+10,000), and education and health services (+8,000) recorded the largest numerical gains.  Job declines since March 2012 were registered in government (-7,000), construction (-4,000), and information (-2,000).

·         Seasonally adjusted average weekly earnings of production workers in manufacturing declined slightly over the month while weekly hours were little changed.  Weekly hour and earnings increased moderately over the year.