{"id":2531052,"date":"2026-01-07T15:28:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-unemployment-dips-to-5-still-among-highest-in-u-s\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T15:32:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:32:04","slug":"michigan-unemployment-dips-to-5-still-among-highest-in-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-unemployment-dips-to-5-still-among-highest-in-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan unemployment dips to 5%, still among highest in U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmichigan-unemployment-dips-to-5-still-among-highest-in-u-s%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531052&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michigan&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/employment-growth-hits-slowest-pace-for-us-since-december-2020\/\" title=\"US employment growth at s... pace since Dec 2020.\">unemployment rate fell slightly<\/a> to 5.0% in November (down 0.1 percentage point from September) but remains the fifth-highest in the nation.The decline follows <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >delayed federal reporting caused<\/a> by the Oct.-Nov. government shutdown, making this the second look at state data as the disruption. <\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Michigan&#8217;s unemployed population decreased by about 7,000 to 252,195, while the state&#8217;s labor force shrank by roughly 13,000 (year-over-year labor force down from 5,080,658 to 5,042,695, just under 1%).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Labor force participation in Michigan is 61.1%, compared with 62.5% nationally.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; National unemployment rose to 4.6% (up 0.2 percentage point from September).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Sectors with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unemployment-rate-edges-upward-for-the-first-time-in-months-as-more-americans-return-to-work\/\" title=\"... Edges Upward For The First Time In Months As More Americans Return To Work\">notable job gains<\/a> over the past year include private education and health services (+12,000), government (+11,000), and construction (+10,000); trade saw the largest increase in November.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Only California, Nevada, New Jersey and Oregon have higher unemployment then Michigan; South Dakota has the lowest at 2.1%.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Analysts disagree on causes: Democrats point to tariffs, while Republicans blame state economic policies under Gov. Gretchen whitmer.<\/p>\n<p>Data cited come from Michigan&#8217;s Center for Data and Analytics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Michigan unemployment dips to 5%, still among highest in U.S.<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2465966\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\">Michigan&rsquo;s<\/a> unemployment rate once again dropped, but still remains one of the highest nationally.<\/p>\n<p>That comes as the national <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/unemployment\/\">unemployment<\/a> increased over the same period, from September to November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4409882\/desantis-calls-april-redistricting-special-session\/\">DeSantis calls April redistricting special session<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4410079\/health-leader-says-medicaid-responsibility-raising-appropriation-need\/\">Health leader says Medicaid responsibility raising appropriation need<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4409806\/marjorie-taylor-greene-venezuela-narrative-not-working-for-most-people\/\">Marjorie Taylor Greene says Venezuelan &#8216;narrative not working for most people&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Although the state lacked several key labor metrics for October, data for the two-month period from September to November revealed continued trends of a declining unemployment rate and total labor force,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/milmi.org\/_docs\/publications\/Press_Releases\/State1125.pdf\">said Wayne Rourke<\/a>, labor market information director for Michigan&rsquo;s Center for Data and Analytics.<\/p>\n<p>In November, Michigan&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-unemployment-rate-trending-down\/\" title=\"Colorado ... trending down\">unemployment rate decreased slightly<\/a> to 5%. That is a drop of just 0.1% from September and means Michigan still has the fifth-highest unemployment of any state nationwide, according to&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/web\/laus\/laumstrk.htm\">data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>California, Nevada, New Jersey and Oregon are the only states with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-does-the-data-tell-us-about-the-disproportional-impact-of-covid-19-lockdowns-on-women\/\" title=\"What Does The Data Tell Us About The Disproportional Impact Of COVID-19 Lockdowns On Women?\">higher unemployment rates<\/a> than Michigan. South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate nationally at just 2.1%.<\/p>\n<p>This is just the second look at unemployment numbers in Michigan since the federal government shutdown delayed the regular monthly reports.<\/p>\n<p>The shutdown lasted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 and, while the government retroactively released the September unemployment numbers, it skipped the October report altogether. That makes the November numbers the most up-to-date.<\/p>\n<p>In November, the national unemployment rate was 4.6%, which was a 0.2% increase from September&rsquo;s previous report. While Michigan&rsquo;s rate has been trending down since its June high of 5.4%, the national unemployment rate has been slowly trending upward in recent months.<\/p>\n<p>Michigan has declining overall employment.<\/p>\n<p>So, while the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/laus.t01.htm\">number of unemployed people<\/a>&nbsp;fell by 7,000 to 252,195, the labor force also dropped by 13,000. That means, over the past year, Michigan&rsquo;s total labor force has dropped from 5,080,658 to 5,042,695, or just less than 1%. That comes while the labor force is increasing nationally.<\/p>\n<p>Participation in the labor force is 61.1% in Michigan, 62.5% nationally.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4074629\/how-2026-senate-primaries-will-shape-the-political-future\/\">HOW 2026 SENATE PRIMARIES WILL SHAPE THE POLITICAL FUTURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The trade sector had the largest increase in November, bucking some concerns about the impact of tariffs on those jobs. Over the past year, private education and health services (up 12,000), government (up 11,000), and construction (up 10,000) had the most pronounced job gains.<\/p>\n<p>Opinions are divided on what is causing Michigan&rsquo;s high unemployment compared to other states. Democrats say issues like tariffs; Republicans lay the blame on economic policies pushed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michigan unemployment 5%, still among highest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2531053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP24312796077710.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[70338,40464,4601,49052,4846],"class_list":["post-2531052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-employment-rate","tag-job-market","tag-michigan","tag-u-s-economy","tag-unemployment"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP24312796077710.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531052"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531056,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531052\/revisions\/2531056"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}