January 2025

Released March 17, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.

Michigan Employment Snapshot

• In January, Michigan added 8,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.3 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 11,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 44,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.3 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Michigan’s private sector added 7,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 33,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 9,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Michigan rose by 5,541, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,198.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate rose to 62 percent in January from 61.8 percent and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Michigan Payroll Employment

• Michigan added 8,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Michigan added 11,000 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 7,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Michigan added 9,800 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Education and Health Services (7,400) and Other Services (2,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200) and Manufacturing (-3,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (30,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (11,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-7,100) and Manufacturing (-19,600).

Michigan Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Michigan rose to 62 percent in January from 61.8 percent in the prior month.

• Michigan ranks 33rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.