Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives/Southwest Michigan 209 E. Washington Ave, Suite 100 Jackson MI 49201 MICHIGAN DEPT. OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET/LABOR MARKET ANALYSIS - SOUTH CENTRAL AND WESTERN MICHIGAN CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES By Place of Residence/Seasonally Unadjusted., ** CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATES Areas Dec Dec 14 Dec 13 13 Battle Creek MSA 64,200 64,400 63,800-200 400 59,900 60,100 58,500-200 1,400 6.7 6.8 8.3 Jackson MSA 69,300 69,700 69,800-400 -500 63,700 64,100 63,200-400 500 8.0 8.0 9.4 Kalamazoo MSA 157,200 157,900 157,100-700 100 146,500 147,000 144,000-500 2,500 6.8 6.9 8.4 Kalamazoo Co. 122,425 123,125 122,000-700 425 115,050 115,375 113,050-325 2,000 6.0 6.3 7.4 Van Buren Co. 34,750 34,750 35,075 0-325 31,475 31,575 30,925-100 550 9.4 9.1 11.9 Niles-BH MSA 70,000 70,700 69,700-700 300 64,400 64,900 62,600-500 1,800 8.1 8.2 10.1 Allegan Co. 53,875 53,375 53,075 500 800 50,250 49,800 48,725 450 1,525 6.7 6.7 8.2 Barry Co. 30,125 29,925 29,750 200 375 28,175 28,000 27,275 175 900 6.5 6.4 8.3 Branch Co. 19,150 19,200 19,125-50 25 17,625 17,650 17,275-25 350 7.9 8.0 9.7 Cass Co. 25,500 25,400 25,325 100 175 23,400 23,475 22,750-75 650 8.3 7.6 10.2 Hillsdale Co. 18,750 18,775 18,950-25 -200 17,100 17,125 16,925-25 175 8.8 8.9 10.8 Lenawee Co. 44,075 44,100 44,650-25 -575 40,550 40,675 40,325-125 225 8.0 7.8 9.7 St. Joseph Co. 28,400 28,325 27,775 75 625 26,450 26,350 25,375 100 1,075 6.9 6.9 8.6 Michigan 4,664,000 4,672,000 4,652,000-8,000 12,000 4,288,000 4,311,000 4,190,000-23,000 98,000 8.1 7.7 9.9 U.S.A.* 154,381 154,408 154,794-27 -413 143,526 144,423 141,614-897 1,912 7.0 6.5 8.5 * Expressed in thousands; ** All labor force and employment numbers are rounded to the nearest 25 for counties, 100 for MSAs, and 1,000 for the State and the Nation. Jobless Rates Stable in Most Regional Counties recorded typical seasonal job reductions in all the counties of Southwest Michigan. Retail trade cut jobs seasonally due to layoffs after the holiday shopping season, and employment in education (public and private) declined, due to the holiday break. Continued seasonal job losses were recorded in construction, leisure and hospitality, and business services. Jobless rates in were similar to the rates throughout the region. Labor Force s Were Mixed over the Month and Over the Year In, workforce levels declined modestly due primarily to fewer jobs in seasonal sectors. The civilian labor force levels inched down in seven of the twelve regional labor markets, ranging from -25 in Hillsdale and Lenawee to -700 in Berrien and Kalamazoo counties. Labor force inched up in Allegan (+500), Barry (+200), Cass (+100), and St. Joseph (+75). Van Buren County s workforce was flat. Over the year, labor force levels rose in 8 of 12 regional counties, extending from +25 in Branch to +800 in Allegan County. Labor force reductions over the year were recorded in Lenawee (-575), Jackson (-500), Van Buren (-325), and Hillsdale (- 200). Percent Employment in Southwest Michigan Counties -2 0 2 4 6 Nation Michigan St. Joseph Lenawee Hillsdale Cass Branch Barry Allegan Berrien Van Buren Kalamazoo Jackson Calhoun Employment Decreased Seasonally in Most Local Markets in but Was Substantially Higher than Last Year s Levels Household employment edged down seasonally over the month in all but three regional counties, mostly due to job cuts in construction, leisure and hospitality, retail trade, professional and business services, and in many areas, private and public education. Job reductions ranged from -25 in Branch and Hillsdale to -500 in Berrien County. Employment by place of residence was up in Allegan (+450), Barry (+175), and St. Joseph (+100) counties. Over the year, all regional counties recorded considerable employment gains, ranging from +175 in Hillsdale to +2,000 in Kalamazoo County. Other counties with ample job additions include Berrien (+1,800), Allegan (+1,525), and Calhoun (+1,400). Over the year Over the month
Unemployment Rates Author: Dr. Leonidas Murembya, Regional Analyst Jobless Rates for Southwest Michigan Counties - 6.5 6.7 6.7 6.9 7.0 7.9 8.0 8.0 8.1 8.1 8.3 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 Rates 6.0 8.8 9.4 Jobless Rates Were Stable in All Regional Counties but Showed Substantial Decline Over the Year Unemployment rates inched up in Cass (+0.7), Van Buren (+0.3), and Lenawee (+0.1) counties. Jobless rates in all other counties of Southwest Michigan edged down or remained unchanged over the month in. Five regional counties (Kalamazoo, Barry, Allegan, Calhoun, and St. Joseph) had lower jobless rates than the national unadjusted rate of 7.0 percent. Michigan s unadjusted unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher than the national rate. Over the year, regional jobless rates dropped by an average of about -1.8 percentage points. Local Metro Area Unemployment Rates Since 2004 Compared to 2004, annual unemployment rates in were up in three local metropolitan areas and down in two others, although at lower levels of labor force in. Jobless rates inched up in the Jackson (+0.5 percentage points), Benton Harbor (+0.7), and Kalamazoo (+0.8) metro areas. Unemployment rates declined in Battle Creek (-0.3) and Grand Rapids (-1.1). The unemployment rates of local metro areas escalated by an average of +4.2 percentage points between 2007 and 2010 in response to the housing sector crash and the automotive industry s financial difficulties. Since 2010, unemployment rates in all four regional metro Year 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 Areas Benton Harbor 7.6 6.8 6.9 6.8 7.9 12.4 12.5 10.2 9.0 8.3 Battle Creek 6.9 6.6 6.9 6.8 7.5 11.4 11.1 9.0 7.4 6.6 Gd. Rapids 6.7 5.9 5.8 6.0 7.0 11.0 10.5 8.3 6.8 5.6 Jackson 7.5 6.7 7.1 7.5 8.4 13.2 12.8 10.0 8.5 8.0 Kalamazoo 6.0 5.6 5.5 5.6 6.6 10.5 10.8 8.9 7.6 6.8 areas have continuously declined by an average of -4.5 percentage points. However, current annual jobless rates for local metro areas remain above the pre-recessionary 2007 levels by an average of seven tenths of a percentage point. Comparing the Trend of Local MSAs Unemployment Rates Since 2004 14.0 12.0 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 Benton Harbor Jackson Kalamazoo Battle Creek Gd. Rapids 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 Years Page 2
Author: Dr. Leonidas Murembya, Regional Analyst Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Declined Seasonally in in All Regional Metro Areas Sectors with Payroll Job ( - ) Battle Creek MSA Educational and Health -7.7% -4.5% -4.3% Battle Creek were 1,300 above levels in. -3.2% -2.8% -2.4% -1.9% -9.0% -8.0% -7.0% -6.0% -5.0% -4.0% -3.0% -2.0% -1.0% 0.0% Payroll jobs in the Battle Creek MSA (Calhoun County) dropped in by 1,400 to a total of 57,300. The area lost jobs seasonally in private and public education (- 500), retail trade (-400), business services (- 200), leisure and hospitality (-200), and construction (-100). Over the year, employment in manufacturing rose by 700, with a gain of 500 in the manufacturing of transportation equipment alone. Jobs in professional and business services were up by 200. Total payroll jobs in Payroll jobs in the Jackson MSA (Jackson County) fell seasonally by 1,400 to 53,400, mainly due to seasonal job cuts in private education and health services (-600), retail trade (-400), construction and leisure and hospitality (- 200 each), and local education (-100). Employment in manufacturing inched up 100 over the month. Educational and Health Sectors with Payroll Job ( - ) Jackson MSA Over the year, manufacturing created 400 additional jobs, and employment in leisure and hospitality was up 300. Private education and Manufacturing -14.0% -12.0% -10.0% -8.0% -6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% 1.1% 2.0% health care cut 300 positions over the year, and jobs in the government sector were 200 below last year s levels in. Total nonfarm payroll employment in Jackson was flat over the year, inching up by 100. Sectors with Payroll Job ( - ) Kalamazoo MSA Educational and Health Other Services Manufacturing -6.7% -4.4% -3.7% -3.5% -2.8% -1.8% -1.7% -1.5% -1.3% -1.3% Nonfarm payroll jobs in the Kalamazoo- Portage MSA (Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties) fell by 3,800 to a total of 134,300. Private and public local and state education cut 1,300 positions seasonally during the holiday break. Seasonal job losses were also recorded in retail trade (- 800), leisure and hospitality (-500), and construction (-300). Manufacturing employment was 300 down in. Over the year, employment in Financial Activities professional and business services escalated by 900, while manufacturing added 500 jobs. The gain of 1,200 jobs in government over last year can be attributable to a timing difference in job change in the public education sector. Leisure and hospitality cut 800 positions, mostly in lodging services. Total payroll jobs in Kalamazoo were 1,600 above levels. -13.3% -7.0% -6.0% -5.0% -4.0% -3.0% -2.0% -1.0% 0.0% -5.8% -4.0% -2.6% -2.6% -2.4% -1.2% Page 3
Sectors with Payroll Job ( - ) Niles-Benton Harbor MSA Other Services Educational and Health Manufacturing -11.8% -5.5% -5.3% -4.6% -4.2% -3.3% -2.2% -1.6% -1.1% -12.0% -10.0% -8.0% -6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% Author: Dr. Leonidas Murembya, Regional Analyst The Niles-Benton Harbor MSA (Berrien County) lost 2,000 payroll jobs to a total of 58,600. A seasonal job loss of -400 was recorded in retail trade. Professional and business services, private and public education, and leisure and hospitality each cut 300 jobs seasonally over the month in. Construction employment was down 200 seasonally, and manufacturing lost 200 positions in. Over the year, employment in private leisure and hospitality rose by 700 and manufacturing gained 400 jobs. However, employment in private education and health services was 500 below levels in. Total payroll jobs in Benton Harbor were 1,300 (or +2.3%) above the level. Note: Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted. As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data. Employment, unemployment and industry job data for all 12 months of have been recently revised. Estimates for are not comparable to previously released data. For newly revised estimates, go to www.michigan.gov/lmi or call the regional analyst (contact information is below). FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact the Regional Analyst, Dr. Leonidas Murembya, in Jackson at 517/841-5634, or the Detroit Office of Labor Market Information at 313/456-3090, or visit our website at http://www.michigan.gov/lmi. Page 4
Author: Dr. Leonidas Murembya, Regional Analyst Southwest Michigan MSAs Payroll Employment - Battle Creek MSA % % 57,300 58,700 56,000-1,400-2.4% 1,300 2.3% Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,200 1,300 1,200-100 -7.7% 0 0.0% Manufacturing 12,100 12,100 11,400 0 0.0% 700 6.1% 9,000 9,400 9,000-400 -4.3% 0 0.0% Financial Activities 1,300 1,300 1,300 0 0.0% 0 0.0% ess 6,000 6,200 5,800-200 -3.2% 200 3.4% Educational and Health 10,300 10,500 10,300-200 -1.9% 0 0.0% y 4,200 4,400 4,200-200 -4.5% 0 0.0% Other Services 2,200 2,200 2,100 0 0.0% 100 4.8% 10,300 10,600 10,200-300 -2.8% 100 1.0% Jackson MSA % % 53,400 54,800 53,300-1,400-2.6% 100 0.2% Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,300 1,500 1,400-200 -13.3% -100-7.1% Manufacturing 9,300 9,200 8,900 100 1.1% 400 4.5% Utilities 11,400 11,700 11,400-300 -2.6% 0 0.0% Information 300 300 400 0 0.0% -100-25.0% Financial Activities 1,900 1,900 1,800 0 0.0% 100 5.6% ess 4,000 4,100 4,000-100 -2.4% 0 0.0% Educational and Health 9,700 10,300 10,000-600 -5.8% -300-3.0% y 4,800 5,000 4,500-200 -4.0% 300 6.7% Other Services 2,700 2,700 2,700 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 8,000 8,100 8,200-100 -1.2% -200-2.4% Kalamazoo MSA % % 134,300 138,100 132,700-3,800-2.8% 1,600 1.2% Mining, Logging, and Construction 4,200 4,500 4,100-300 -6.7% 100 2.4% Manufacturing 19,200 19,500 18,700-300 -1.5% 500 2.7% Utilities 23,300 24,200 23,400-900 -3.7% -100-0.4% Information 900 900 900 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Financial Activities 7,900 8,000 8,100-100 -1.3% -200-2.5% ess 15,400 15,600 14,500-200 -1.3% 900 6.2% Educational and Health 22,200 22,600 22,200-400 -1.8% 0 0.0% y 13,600 14,100 14,400-500 -3.5% -800-5.6% Other Services 5,700 5,800 5,700-100 -1.7% 0 0.0% 21,900 22,900 20,700-1,000-4.4% 1,200 5.8% Niles-Benton Harbor MSA % % 58,600 60,600 57,300-2,000-3.3% 1,300 2.3% Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,500 1,700 1,600-200 -11.8% -100-6.3% Manufacturing 12,200 12,400 11,800-200 -1.6% 400 3.4% Utilities 10,400 11,000 10,100-600 -5.5% 300 3.0% Information 500 500 500 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Financial Activities 2,300 2,300 2,400 0 0.0% -100-4.2% ess 5,400 5,700 5,200-300 -5.3% 200 3.8% Educational and Health 8,900 9,100 9,400-200 -2.2% -500-5.3% y 6,200 6,500 5,500-300 -4.6% 700 12.7% Other Services 2,300 2,400 2,300-100 -4.2% 0 0.0% 8,900 9,000 8,500-100 -1.1% 400 4.7% Page 5
Author: Dr. Leonidas Murembya, Regional Analyst Southwest Michigan Works! Agencies Local Area Employment Data February March April May June July August September October November Ann Avg Barry-Branch-Calhoun Labor force 113,475 113,475 Employment 105,650 105,650 Unemployed 7,825 7,825 Rate 6.9 6.9 Barry Labor force 30,125 30,125 Employment 28,175 28,175 Unemployed 1,975 1,975 Rate 6.5 6.5 Branch Labor force 19,150 19,150 Employment 17,625 17,625 Unemployed 1,525 1,525 Rate 7.9 7.9 Calhoun Labor force 64,200 64,200 Employment 59,900 59,900 Unemployed 4,300 4,300 Rate 6.7 6.7 Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Labor force 130,300 130,300 Employment 119,225 119,225 Unemployed 11,100 11,100 Rate 8.5 8.5 Berrien Labor force 70,000 70,000 Employment 64,400 64,400 Unemployed 5,700 5,700 Rate 8.1 8.1 Cass Labor force 25,500 25,500 Employment 23,400 23,400 Unemployed 2,125 2,125 Rate 8.3 8.3 Van Buren Labor force 34,750 34,750 Employment 31,475 31,475 Unemployed 3,275 3,275 Rate 9.4 9.4 Kalamazoo-St. Joseph Labor force 150,825 150,825 Employment 141,475 141,475 Unemployed 9,325 9,325 Rate 6.2 6.2 Kalamazoo Labor force 122,425 122,425 Employment 115,050 115,050 Unemployed 7,375 7,375 Rate 6.0 6.0 St. Joseph Labor force 28,400 28,400 Employment 26,450 26,450 Unemployed 1,950 1,950 Rate 6.9 6.9 South Central Michigan Labor force 132,100 132,100 Employment 121,375 121,375 Unemployed 10,725 10,725 Rate 8.1 8.1 Hillsdale Labor force 18,750 18,750 Employment 17,100 17,100 Unemployed 1,650 1,650 Rate 8.8 8.8 Jackson Labor force 69,300 69,300 Employment 63,700 63,700 Unemployed 5,500 5,500 Rate 8.0 8.0 Lenawee Labor force 44,075 44,075 Employment 40,550 40,550 Unemployed 3,525 3,525 Rate 8.0 8.0 Page 6