Metropolitan Statistical Areas Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives West and Northwest Michigan September 2016 West Michigan Jobless Rates Drop in September In September, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in both the Grand Rapids-Wyoming and Muskegon metropolitan areas. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA jobless rate decreased to 2.9 percent, while the Muskegon MSA rate declined to 4.3 percent; seasonal decreases of -0.4 percentage points and -0.5 percentage points, respectively. (Table 1 and Figure 1) Figure 1: Jobless Rate (September 2016) Grand Rapids-Wyoming Ann Arbor Lansing-East Lansing Kalamazoo-Portage Midland Monroe Battle Creek Niles-Benton Harbor Jackson Saginaw Bay City Muskegon Flint Detroit-Warren-Dearborn 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.3 4.5 5.4 For the fifth month in a row, the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA had the lowest unemployment rate among Michigan metro areas. Moreover, in September, labor force and employment were also down in both MSAs. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA workforce decreased by -0.6 percent, while the Muskegon MSA labor force fell by -1.1 percent. In addition, the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA had a minor decline in employment of -0.3 percent, and the Muskegon MSA saw a slightly larger -0.7 percent drop over this period. In contrast, the state of Michigan experienced some stasis in September: labor force was down only -0.1 percent and employment was up +0.4 percent. The number of unemployed was down in the Grand Rapids MSA by -11.4 percent over the month. In the Muskegon MSA, the number of unemployed dropped -13.2 percent to 3,300. This mirrored the trend statewide, which saw the number of unemployed decrease -11.2 percent to 214,000. Over the year, the West Michigan MSAs saw unchanging jobless rates. The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA had a rate decrease of only -0.1 percentage points since September 2015, while the Muskegon MSA was down -0.3 percentage points. These were both on par with the state overall, as Michigan s jobless rate dropped only -0.2 percentage points since September 2015. The Muskegon MSA had a larger increase in the number of employed over the year; +3.3 percent compared to +1.9 percent in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA. (Table 1) September Jobless Rates Continue to Decrease in West and Northwest Michigan Non-Metro Counties In September, all West Michigan non-metro counties saw drops in their jobless rates. Every county had a change of at least - 0.4 percentage points. The largest decreases were recorded in Lake county (-0.7 percentage points), Mecosta counties (-0.7 percentage points) and Newaygo county (-0.6 percentage points). Other labor market measures such as the labor force saw more variability and change; Mecosta had a +5.5 percent increase, while Oceana was down -2.5 percent. The largest decline in the number of employed also occurred in Oceana (-2.0 percent). Over the year, all counties experienced jobless rate reductions between -0.2 and -0.6 percentage points. (Table 2) Michelle Wein, Economic Analyst Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives weinm@michigan.gov 517-241-8272 1
In September, jobless rates in Northwest Michigan were also down, but at a more moderate pace. Rate changes ranged from 0 percentage points to -0.6 percentage points. The largest of these was in Missaukee County. Moreover, in contrast to West Michigan, every Northwest Michigan county experienced seasonal labor force contraction, ranging from -1.6 percent (Wexford) to -6.8 percent (Antrim). Over the year, jobless rates fell, but at a more static pace than West Michigan, declining by 0 to -0.5 percentage points. (Appendix 1) Prosperity Region Jobless Rates Decline in September In September, the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance jobless rate edged down -0.4 percentage points, to 3.2 percent, while the Northwest Michigan Prosperity Region experienced a -0.3 percentage point seasonal decline to 3.8 percent. While the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance had relative labor force stasis in September (-0.6 percent); the Northwest Michigan Prosperity Region saw a seasonal labor force contraction (-3.7 percent), as the summer tourist season ended. (Appendix 3) Since September 2015, jobless rates in both Prosperity regions edged lower; -0.3 percentage point in the Northwest Prosperity Region and -0.2 percentage points in the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance. (Appendix 3) West Michigan Payroll Jobs Up in September Grand Rapids Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area September nonfarm jobs in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA were up by +4,300 jobs, bringing the total to 544,100. Since September 2015, total nonfarm employment growth rose by 11,500 (+2.2 percent), outpacing job expansion in both Michigan (+2.0 percent) and the United States (+1.7 percent). The Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA ranked 6 th among Michigan metro areas in job growth rate since September 2015, behind Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Saginaw and Lansing. (Table 3) Educational services displayed the most gains in September, with +1,500 additional jobs. This is typical for the month of September. Also experiencing an expansion was Professional and business services with an increase of +1,400 jobs in September. Manufacturing employment contracted 500 in September bringing its total to 112,000. Other broad sectors with September job additions were Government, which added +5,600 jobs. Over the past year, job gains were very widespread across industries. The sectors with the largest over the year job additions were Manufacturing (+3,200), Professional and business services (+2,400) and Educational and health services (+2,100). Muskegon Metropolitan Statistical Area In the Muskegon MSA, total nonfarm jobs recorded an increase of +100 in September, to 66,400. Small overall changes in payroll jobs are typical for the month of September in this region. Since September 2015, job levels advanced by 2,500 (+3.9 percent), making Muskegon the third highest growing MSA in Michigan this month. Most of these job additions occurred in the Manufacturing (+700) Trade, transportation and utilities (+500) and Leisure and hospitality (+500) sectors. (Table 3) Despite the overall increase, September job advances were scarce, and only made in Professional and business services (+100) and Government (+900). Every other category was stagnant or decreasing. Since September 2015, numeric job gains were larger in the Service providing (+1,700) than the Goods producing (+800) sector. On a percentage basis, job advances were largest in Financial activities (+11.8 percent), Professional and business services (8.3 percent), and Leisure and hospitality (6.9 percent). 2
Table 1: Metropolitan Statistical Areas Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA (Kent, Montcalm, Ottawa, Barry counties) Labor Force 560,900 564,300 551,100-3,400-0.6% 9,800 1.8% Employment 544,500 545,900 534,600-1,400-0.3% 9,900 1.9% Unemployment 16,300 18,400 16,500-2,100-11.4% -200-1.2% Jobless Rate 2.9% 3.3% 3.0% -0.4-0.1 Muskegon MSA (Muskegon County) Labor Force 78,600 79,500 76,300-900 -1.1% 2,300 3.0% Employment 75,200 75,700 72,800-500 -0.7% 2,400 3.3% Unemployment 3,300 3,800 3,500-500 -13.2% -200-5.7% Jobless Rate 4.3% 4.8% 4.6% -0.5-0.3 Michigan Labor Force 4,857,000 4,864,000 4,723,000-7,000-0.1% 134,000 2.8% Employment 4,642,000 4,624,000 4,507,000 18,000 0.4% 135,000 3.0% Unemployment 214,000 241,000 217,000-27,000-11.2% -3,000-1.4% Jobless Rate 4.4% 4.9% 4.6% -0.5-0.2 By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted Rates Calculated with Unrounded Data 3
Table 2: West Michigan Counties Not Within Metropolitan Statistical Areas Allegan By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted Rates Calculated with Unrounded Data Labor Force 61,500 62,100 60,700-600 -1.0% 800 1.3% Employment 59,725 60,075 58,825-350 -0.6% 900 1.5% Unemployment 1,775 2,025 1,850-250 -12.3% -75-4.1% Jobless Rate 2.9% 3.3% 3.1% -0.4-0.2 Ionia Labor Force 29,550 29,650 29,350-100 -0.3% 200 0.7% Employment 28,600 28,575 28,300 25 0.1% 300 1.1% Unemployment 950 1,075 1,025-125 -11.6% -75-7.3% Jobless Rate 3.2% 3.6% 3.5% -0.4-0.3 Lake Labor Force 3,850 3,925 3,725-75 -1.9% 125 3.4% Employment 3,650 3,675 3,500-25 -0.7% 150 4.3% Unemployment 200 225 225-25 -11.1% -25-11.1% Jobless Rate 5.3% 6.0% 6.1% -0.7-0.8 Mason Labor Force 14,825 15,150 14,775-325 -2.1% 50 0.3% Employment 14,250 14,525 14,150-275 -1.9% 100 0.7% Unemployment 575 650 625-75 -11.5% -50-8.0% Jobless Rate 3.8% 4.2% 4.2% -0.4-0.4 Mecosta Labor Force 19,675 18,650 19,500 1,025 5.5% 175 0.9% Employment 18,875 17,725 18,600 1,150 6.5% 275 1.5% Unemployment 825 925 875-100 -10.8% -50-5.7% Jobless Rate 4.2% 4.9% 4.5% -0.7-0.3 Newaygo Labor Force 23,200 23,425 22,975-225 -1.0% 225 1.0% Employment 22,375 22,425 22,075-50 -0.2% 300 1.4% Unemployment 825 1,000 900-175 -17.5% -75-8.3% Jobless Rate 3.6% 4.2% 3.9% -0.6-0.3 Oceana Labor Force 12,825 13,150 12,950-325 -2.5% -125-1.0% Employment 12,250 12,500 12,275-250 -2.0% -25-0.2% Unemployment 575 675 650-100 -14.8% -75-11.5% Jobless Rate 4.5% 5.0% 5.1% -0.5-0.6 Osceola Labor Force 10,200 10,125 10,175 75 0.7% 25 0.2% Employment 9,750 9,625 9,700 125 1.3% 50 0.5% Unemployment 450 500 475-50 -10.0% -25-5.3% Jobless Rate 4.4% 4.9% 4.7% -0.5-0.3 4
Table 3: Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSA Total Nonfarm 544,100 539,800 532,600 4,300 0.8% 11,500 2.2% Goods Producing 134,400 135,700 130,600-1,300-1.0% 3,800 2.9% Mining, Logging and Construction 22,400 23,200 21,800-800 -3.4% 600 2.8% Manufacturing 112,000 112,500 108,800-500 -0.4% 3,200 2.9% Service Providing 409,700 404,100 402,000 5,600 1.4% 7,700 1.9% Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 95,700 96,700 93,800-1,000-1.0% 1,900 2.0% Information 5,000 5,200 5,100-200 -3.8% -100-2.0% Financial Activities 25,500 25,900 24,700-400 -1.5% 800 3.2% Professional and Business Services 79,300 77,900 76,900 1,400 1.8% 2,400 3.1% Educational and Health Services 88,100 86,600 86,000 1,500 1.7% 2,100 2.4% Educational Services 13,800 12,800 14,700 1,000 7.8% -900-6.1% Health Care and Social Assistance 74,300 73,800 71,300 500 0.7% 3,000 4.2% Leisure and Hospitality 48,000 49,300 47,500-1,300-2.6% 500 1.1% Other Services 22,000 22,000 21,600 0 0.0% 400 1.9% Government 46,100 40,500 46,400 5,600 13.8% -300-0.6% Muskegon MSA Total Nonfarm 66,400 66,300 63,900 100 0.2% 2,500 3.9% Goods Producing 16,800 16,800 16,000 0 0.0% 800 5.0% Mining, Logging and Construction 2,200 2,200 2,100 0 0.0% 100 4.8% Manufacturing 14,600 14,600 13,900 0 0.0% 700 5.0% Service Providing 49,600 49,500 47,900 100 0.2% 1,700 3.5% Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 14,100 14,200 13,600-100 -0.7% 500 3.7% Information 800 800 800 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Financial Activities 1,900 1,900 1,700 0 0.0% 200 11.8% Professional and Business Services 3,900 3,800 3,600 100 2.6% 300 8.3% Educational and Health Services 11,100 11,200 11,300-100 -0.9% -200-1.8% Leisure and Hospitality 7,700 8,200 7,200-500 -6.1% 500 6.9% Other Services 2,400 2,600 2,400-200 -7.7% 0 0.0% Government 7,700 6,800 7,300 900 13.2% 400 5.5% 5
Appendix 1: Counties of Northwest Michigan Antrim Labor Force 10,000 10,725 9,975-725 -6.8% 25 0.3% Employment 9,525 10,200 9,475-675 -6.6% 50 0.5% Unemployment 500 525 500-25 -4.8% 0 0.0% Jobless Rate 4.9% 5.0% 5.0% -0.1-0.1 Benzie Labor Force 8,800 9,125 8,750-325 -3.6% 50 0.6% Employment 8,450 8,700 8,350-250 -2.9% 100 1.2% Unemployment 350 425 400-75 -17.6% -50-12.5% Jobless Rate 4.1% 4.6% 4.6% -0.5-0.5 Charlevoix Labor Force 13,425 14,150 13,300-725 -5.1% 125 0.9% Employment 12,925 13,625 12,775-700 -5.1% 150 1.2% Unemployment 500 525 525-25 -4.8% -25-4.8% Jobless Rate 3.7% 3.7% 3.9% 0.0-0.2 Emmet Labor Force 17,650 18,725 17,675-1,075-5.7% -25-0.1% Employment 16,975 17,950 16,900-975 -5.4% 75 0.4% Unemployment 675 775 775-100 -12.9% -100-12.9% Jobless Rate 3.8% 4.1% 4.3% -0.3-0.5 Grand Traverse Labor Force 49,275 50,925 48,700-1,650-3.2% 575 1.2% Employment 47,750 49,225 47,100-1,475-3.0% 650 1.4% Unemployment 1,525 1,700 1,600-175 -10.3% -75-4.7% Jobless Rate 3.1% 3.4% 3.3% -0.3-0.2 Kalkaska Labor Force 7,800 8,075 7,725-275 -3.4% 75 1.0% Employment 7,400 7,650 7,325-250 -3.3% 75 1.0% Unemployment 375 425 400-50 -11.8% -25-6.3% Jobless Rate 4.9% 5.4% 5.3% -0.5-0.4 Leelanau Labor Force 10,750 11,100 10,675-350 -3.2% 75 0.7% Employment 10,400 10,700 10,300-300 -2.8% 100 1.0% Unemployment 350 375 375-25 -6.7% -25-6.7% Jobless Rate 3.2% 3.5% 3.5% -0.3-0.3 Manistee Labor Force 10,775 11,075 10,600-300 -2.7% 175 1.7% Employment 10,275 10,525 10,125-250 -2.4% 150 1.5% Unemployment 500 550 475-50 -9.1% 25 5.3% Jobless Rate 4.6% 4.9% 4.6% -0.3 0.0 Missaukee Labor Force 6,900 7,050 7,000-150 -2.1% -100-1.4% Employment 6,625 6,700 6,700-75 -1.1% -75-1.1% Unemployment 300 325 325-25 -7.7% -25-7.7% Jobless Rate 4.2% 4.8% 4.6% -0.6-0.4 Wexford Labor Force 14,275 14,500 14,300-225 -1.6% -25-0.2% Employment 13,625 13,750 13,600-125 -0.9% 25 0.2% Unemployment 650 725 700-75 -10.3% -50-7.1% Jobless Rate 4.6% 5.1% 4.9% -0.5-0.3 By Place of Residence / Not Seasonally Adjusted / Rates Calculated with Unrounded Data 6
Appendix 2: Michigan Works! Areas West Michigan Works! Labor Force 730,500 735,600 717,500-5,100-0.7% 13,000 1.8% Employment 708,100 710,200 694,500-2,100-0.3% 13,600 2.0% Unemployment 22,400 25,300 22,900-2,900-11.5% -500-2.2% Jobless Rate 3.1% 3.4% 3.2% -0.4-0.1 Michigan Works! West Central Labor Force 84,600 84,400 84,100 200 0.2% 500 0.6% Employment 81,100 80,500 80,300 600 0.7% 800 1.0% Unemployment 3,500 4,000 3,800-500 -12.5% -300-7.9% Jobless Rate 4.1% 4.7% 4.5% -0.6-0.4 Northwest Michigan Council of Governments Labor Force 149,600 155,400 148,700-5,800-3.7% 900 0.6% Employment 143,900 149,100 142,600-5,200-3.5% 1,300 0.9% Unemployment 5,700 6,400 6,100-700 -10.9% -400-6.6% Jobless Rate 3.8% 4.1% 4.1% -0.3-0.3 By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted Rates Calculated with Unrounded Data 7
Appendix 3: West Michigan and Northwest Michigan Prosperity Regions 2 - Northwest Prosperity Region Labor Force 149,600 155,400 148,700-5,800-3.7% 900 0.6% Employment 143,900 149,100 142,600-5,200-3.5% 1,300 0.9% Unemployment 5,700 6,400 6,100-700 -10.9% -400-6.6% Jobless Rate 3.8% 4.1% 4.1% -0.3-0.3 4 - West Michigan Prosperity Alliance Labor Force 815,000 820,000 801,600-5,000-0.6% 13,400 1.7% Employment 789,200 790,700 774,800-1,500-0.2% 14,400 1.9% Unemployment 25,900 29,300 26,700-3,400-11.6% -800-3.0% Jobless Rate 3.2% 3.6% 3.3% -0.4-0.2 By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted Rates Calculated with Unrounded Data 8
Appendix 4: Michigan Counties Ranked by Jobless Rate, September 2016 1 Ottawa County 2.7 43 Iron County 4.3 2 Clinton County 2.9 44 Oakland County 4.3 3 Kent County 2.9 45 Muskegon County 4.3 4 Allegan County 2.9 46 Houghton County 4.4 5 Mackinac County 3.0 47 Osceola County 4.4 6 Barry County 3.1 48 Otsego County 4.4 7 Eaton County 3.1 49 Sanilac County 4.4 8 Grand Traverse County 3.1 50 Hillsdale County 4.4 9 Washtenaw County 3.1 51 Oceana County 4.5 10 Leelanau County 3.2 52 Tuscola County 4.5 11 Ionia County 3.2 53 Menominee County 4.5 12 Kalamazoo County 3.4 54 Genesee County 4.5 13 Huron County 3.5 55 Manistee County 4.6 14 Ingham County 3.5 56 Wexford County 4.6 15 St. Joseph County 3.5 57 Delta County 4.7 16 Cheboygan County 3.6 58 Marquette County 4.8 17 Newaygo County 3.6 59 Antrim County 4.9 18 Midland County 3.6 60 Kalkaska County 4.9 19 Charlevoix County 3.7 61 Keweenaw County 4.9 20 Isabella County 3.7 62 Gogebic County 5.0 21 Monroe County 3.7 63 Chippewa County 5.0 22 Emmet County 3.8 64 Iosco County 5.1 23 Lenawee County 3.8 65 Oscoda County 5.1 24 Branch County 3.8 66 Alcona County 5.2 25 Mason County 3.8 67 Macomb County 5.2 26 Montcalm County 3.9 68 Gladwin County 5.3 27 Cass County 3.9 69 Lake County 5.3 28 Calhoun County 3.9 70 Clare County 5.4 29 Van Buren County 4.0 71 Alger County 5.5 30 Gratiot County 4.0 72 Ogemaw County 5.6 31 Shiawassee County 4.0 73 St. Clair County 5.6 32 Berrien County 4.0 74 Crawford County 5.7 33 Benzie County 4.1 75 Lapeer County 5.7 34 Dickinson County 4.1 76 Arenac County 5.8 35 Bay County 4.1 77 Baraga County 5.8 36 Jackson County 4.1 78 Presque Isle County 5.8 37 Saginaw County 4.1 79 Roscommon County 5.9 38 Livingston County 4.2 80 Ontonagon County 6.1 39 Luce County 4.2 81 Schoolcraft County 6.3 40 Missaukee County 4.2 82 Wayne County 6.5 41 Alpena County 4.2 83 Montmorency County 7.1 42 Mecosta County 4.2 Counties in a West Michigan MSA Northwest Michigan counties in bold 9
Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Michigan Regional Labor Market Report September 2016 For additional information or other labor market analysis, please contact Michelle Wein, Economic Analyst with the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, & Budget, Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives at 517-241-8272 or weinm@michigan.gov. Please visit our website at www.michigan.gov/lmi. 10