Michigan Unemployment Data Released

Jan 9, 2026

by Liz Gullett

As MLC’s Communications and Social Media Manager, Liz Gullett keeps clients informed and up-to-date on the goings on in Lansing and the Capitol.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point between September and November. Employment receded by 6,000 between September and November, and the number of unemployed fell by 7,000, resulting in a workforce decline of 13,000 during this period. The information was late and doesn’t include October-specific data due to the Federal government shutdown last fall.

Key Points:

    • The total number of unemployed people fell by 2.7% between September and November, whereas the national unemployment level rose by 3%.
    • Total employment in Michigan decreased by 0.6% over the year, while the national employment level advanced by 1.6% since November 2024.
    • Statewide total nonfarm jobs advanced for the fifth consecutive month during November.
    • Monthly job gains were led by trade, transportation, and utilities, and private education and health services, with employment increasing by 2,000 in each industry.
    • The industries with the most pronounced over-the-year numerical job gains included private education and health services (+12,000), government (+11,000), and construction (+10,000).

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area:

    • The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose by 0.1% between September and November to 4.7%.
    • Employment fell by 12,000, and total unemployment edged up by 1,000.
    • Over the year, the jobless rate decreased by 0.3%, and the labor force was nearly unchanged, edging down by 1,000.

Please click here to read the full release by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.

[socialrocket]

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Recent Posts

Beyond the Bio – Meet Brendan Ringlever

Beyond the Bio – Meet Brendan Ringlever

MLC partner Brendan has been part of our firm for 21 years. Click here to read their full bio and get to know them better! What did you want to be when you were a kid? I liked business and numbers and thought I’d be a CPA, seriously! What are your favorite activities...

Five Things We’re Reading

Five Things We’re Reading

Below are some articles that the MLC lobby team has been reading over the past week. We hope you find them as interesting and useful as we do. Is Your State Making School Zones More Dangerous? – Why are some states looking to ban cameras that catch drivers speeding in...

Governor Approves Cellphone Ban

Governor Approves Cellphone Ban

This week, Governor Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation banning cellphones in classrooms across the state. She first called for these reforms in her 2025 State of the State Address, and the legislature has since worked in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to...

Looking for older articles?

We’ve recently made improvements to our blog to provide a better user experience. If you’re searching for older posts, click here to search our archive.

Michigan Legislative Consultants

Michigan Legislative Consultants
110 W. Michigan Avenue
Suite 500
Lansing, MI 48933
517.372.2560
517.372.0130 fax

1001 Woodward Avenue
Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226

MLC is proud to be the Michigan member of NASL