Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the month, remaining at 5.3%.

That’s according to data released Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.

Employment fell by 5,000 over the month, and the number of unemployed people edged down by 1,000. Michigan’s labor force decreased by 5,000 during July.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in July at 5.3 percent as small decreases in employment and unemployment caused a minor reduction in the state’s labor force,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics. “Seasonally adjusted payroll jobs rose slightly over the month due to a majority of industries remaining stable or showing slight job additions.”

The national unemployment rate rose by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.2%.

Michigan’s July jobless rate was 1.1 percentage points larger than the U.S. rate. The national unemployment rate was unchanged over the year, while Michigan’s rate advanced by half a percentage point since July 2024.

The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area’s (MSA) seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.8% during July. Employment in the Detroit MSA rose by 5,000, while unemployment edged down by 1,000. The Detroit metro area workforce advanced by 5,000 over the month.

According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 3,000 during July, resulting in a job total of 4,529,000.

Michigan’s government sector recorded the greatest over-the-month job gain, with employment advancing by 3,000 in July. Monthly job gains were partially offset by decreases in professional and business services (-3,000) and leisure and hospitality (-2,000).

On a numerical basis, the private education and health services (+22,000), government (+13,000), and construction (+10,000) sectors saw the most significant industry job additions since July 2024.