Counties with the highest unemployment in Michigan
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Michigan using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Michigan.
#25. Manistee County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,083 people (538 unemployed)
#24. Osceola County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,053 people (710 unemployed)
#23. Mecosta County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,108 people (1,088 unemployed)
#22. Genesee County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 186,516 people (10,079 unemployed)
#21. Monroe County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 80,067 people (4,436 unemployed)
#20. Saginaw County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 84,815 people (4,631 unemployed)
#19. Luce County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,134 people (120 unemployed)
#18. Iosco County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,972 people (621 unemployed)
#17. Gladwin County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,601 people (616 unemployed)
#16. Oceana County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,935 people (690 unemployed)
#15. Baraga County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,280 people (193 unemployed)
#14. Schoolcraft County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,329 people (198 unemployed)
#13. Ogemaw County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,683 people (518 unemployed)
#12. Crawford County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,742 people (349 unemployed)
#11. Alger County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,457 people (215 unemployed)
#10. Wayne County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 813,347 people (50,678 unemployed)
#9. Ontonagon County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,139 people (134 unemployed)
#8. Clare County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,064 people (763 unemployed)
#7. Lake County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,324 people (286 unemployed)
#6. Arenac County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,191 people (407 unemployed)
#5. Alcona County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,776 people (253 unemployed)
#4. Montmorency County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,235 people (219 unemployed)
#3. Presque Isle County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,195 people (354 unemployed)
#2. Roscommon County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,985 people (648 unemployed)
#1. Oscoda County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,924 people (231 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
