Michigan's unemployment rate has been on a steady climb, reaching 5.5% in March 2025. That's like your favorite roller coaster going up, but without the fun drop afterward. It's the third month in a row with an increase, making job hunting feel more like a game of hide-and-seek where the jobs are really good at hiding. Come out, come out, wherever you are…!
Here are Five Fast Facts on Michigan’s ailing jobs sitch:
- 🚗 Manufacturing Takes A Nap - Michigan lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs in March. Apparently, robots are working overtime while humans are on an involuntary vacation.
- 💨 Professional Services Go MIA - The professional and business services sector shed 4,000 jobs. Looks like the "business" part took a trip and forgot to come back home.
- 📈 Government Jobs Step Up - In an ironic plot twist, government jobs increased by 2,000. Maybe they're hiring people to count all the unemployed? We still think it’s hard to see more government jobs as a truly great thing – it’s great for those folks to get their Paychecks, obviously, but more government jobs doesn’t help the ongoing state economy.
- 🤔 Tariff Tsk’ing - Some say Trump’s tariffs are a major compounding factor to the challenges already happening here. As we’ve said before, the jury’s still out on that, but it’s a valid argument worth some debate and consideration.
- 💰 Democrat Damage - On the other side of the aisle, state Democrats raised income taxes last year – another 0.2% -- and are moving forward on another 2% in corporate taxes. Problem is that almost 90% of all businesses affected by this would have less than 100 workers, so this is punishing the “little guys” rather than big corporations. Finally, Biden’s EV mandates have forced the Big 3 to make cars no one wants, which makes as much sense as being forced to buy a pet llama when you live in a studio apartment.
🔥Bottom line: Michigan's job market is currently like a bad sequel that no one asked for — predictable and disappointing. With unemployment rates climbing and job sectors shrinking, it's clear that the state needs a new script. Here's hoping for a plot twist that brings back the jobs and ends this saga on a high note.
What do you think is going to fix the jobs situation?
Let us know by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram! Also, remember to share this newsletter with your friends & coworkers!
BTW, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!
