Michigan's Labor Market News | January 2026

Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget sent this bulletin at 01/15/2026 12:04 PM EST

Michigan's Labor Market News. Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

January 2026 | Vol. 81 | No. 9

people sitting waiting for job interviews

Alternative Unemployment Measures Signal Greater Michigan Labor Market Slack Since End of 2022

The gap between the state’s standard and broadest jobless rate advanced by more than half, reflecting greater hidden underemployment. Read More

Labor Force and Industry Trends

Michigan Jobless Rate Recedes between September and November

Michigan's unemployment rate declined by 0.1 percentage point between September and November to 5.0 percent. The national jobless rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.6 percent over the same period. Read More

Michigan Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Rise During November

Michigan added 2,600 payroll jobs in November, the fifth consecutive month with positive gains. Total employment is up over the year with most sectors adding jobs since November 2024. Read More

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Michigan Works! West Central Jobs Decrease Over the Year

Total private employment within the region decreased 2.7 percent since the second quarter of 2024. Read More

During First Quarter 2025, Nine Out of 10 of Michigan’s Private Businesses Had Less Than 50 Employees

Small Firms that employed less than 50 workers represented the highest share of businesses statewide. Large firms had the lowest share of total business but employed the most workers and paid out more total wages. Read More

Industry Focus: Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing in Michigan

The Plastics and rubber products manufacturing industry is a subsector of the Manufacturing sector, as classified under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The industry has experienced a decline in its Michigan workforce in recent years, reflecting similar employment patterns observed across multiple other manufacturing subsectors. Read More

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Job Demand

November Sees a Drop in Michigan’s Online Job Postings

Layoffs and Discharges Boost Separations in October

Online Job Demand Dashboard

Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

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