Michigan posts 5.3% unemployment rate for January; Detroit region posts 5.1%
Michigan's seasonally adjusted jobless rate nudged slightly higher in January compared to December, according to a report issued Friday from the MIchigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
The state's latest seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.3%, compared to 5.2% the month before. The January 2024 rate was 4.0%.
In the meantime, total employment in Michigan rose by 6,000, while unemployment increased by 6,000 over the month, resulting in a workforce gain of 12,000 in January.
"The state's unemployment rate and total labor force both increased slightly in January," said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan's Center for Data and Analytics. "Michigan businesses showed overall growth in payroll jobs this month."
Michigan's unemployment rate for January was noticeably higher than the national rate, which was 4.0% for the month.
Specific to Southeast Michigan, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.1 percent over the month. The region's workforce increased by 5,000 in January.
Unemployment rates represent the number of people who actively looked for work in the past four weeks as compared to those who worked full time or part-time at a job, self-employment or a family farm or were on authorized leave from their job such as for medical reasons.
