December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Michigan Employment Snapshot

• In December, Michigan added 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 42,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Michigan is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Michigan’s private sector added 4,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Michigan fell by 10,748, and over the past 12 months it fell by 37,506.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.2 percent in December and ranks 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Michigan Payroll Employment

• Michigan added 6,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,700 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Michigan is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 4,500 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Michigan added 2,800 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Michigan is tied for 40th 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 December were Leisure and Hospitality (3,400) and Government (1,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-1,100) and Manufacturing (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (18,400) and Construction (13,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-3,200) and Manufacturing (-11,200).

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 remained unchanged at 62.2 percent in December.

• Michigan ranks 32nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.4 percent in July 2024, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.