Counties with the highest unemployment in Michigan

The first jobs report under the new Trump administration showed a stable job market, with the unemployment rate ticking down from 4.1% to 4% in January, the lowest since last May, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released Feb. 7.

The report marks 49 consecutive months of overall job growth, the second-longest recorded period since 1939.

Job losses that did occur were concentrated in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries, which declined by 8,000 jobs over the month. There was little change in employment in other major industries.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates Michigan, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in December 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.

Key takeaways: Jobs report reveals cooling labor market

January's job growth of 143,000 fell short of expectations, while the downward revision of 589,000 fewer jobs in 2024 suggests the labor market was weaker last year than initially thought.

Business leaders are starting to display more caution, with 67% of executives reporting higher stress levels heading into 2025, according to a survey of 1,000 executives by Sentry, a business insurance company. Among survey respondents, 47% citing economic uncertainty as their biggest concern.

"We have what I would describe as a robust but frozen labor market," Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, told The New York Times, noting that while unemployment remains low, there's very little churn or employee turnover as "businesses are being cautious as to how they manage their work force."

Moody's Analytics projects monthly payroll gains could slow to around 100,000 by year-end.

The big story: Potential for economic headwinds grows

Behind the "Now Hiring" signs and modest unemployment rate, there's growing concern on Main Street that the economy might be more fragile than it appears.

"You've already got companies hiring as if they're in a recession—even if they're not laying people off," Oliver Allen, senior U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, told CNN. Average unemployment duration, a lagging indicator, rose from 20.8 weeks in January 2024 to 22 in January of this year.

Tightening trade regulations and federal trimming could also have an impact on the job market. Experts predict the U.S. gross domestic product could take a hit due to increased tariffs. The U.S. government is the country's largest employer and contributes 36% to the GDP.

Sudden cuts to federal spending advocated by the new administration could hit the economy hard. One example of the potential fallout is that if prices were to increase further due to higher tariffs, consumer purchasing power would decline, stymieing economic growth.

Whether the effects of slashing the workforce and the budget will be exceeded by Trump's plans to loosen business regulations and cut taxes remains to be seen.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Michigan.

49. Lapeer County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,859 people (2,293 unemployed)

49. Wayne County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: -0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 802,110 people (45,298 unemployed)

47. Alpena County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,523 people (822 unemployed)

47. Dickinson County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,076 people (689 unemployed)

45. Calhoun County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 62,665 people (3,640 unemployed)

45. Bay County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 50,683 people (2,937 unemployed)

44. Shiawassee County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 34,334 people (2,038 unemployed)

43. Charlevoix County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,440 people (747 unemployed)

39. Muskegon County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 81,131 people (4,923 unemployed)

39. Osceola County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,951 people (793 unemployed)

39. Benzie County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,058 people (551 unemployed)

39. Genesee County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 188,093 people (11,537 unemployed)

36. Van Buren County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,810 people (2,225 unemployed)

36. Wexford County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,074 people (936 unemployed)

36. Missaukee County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,989 people (432 unemployed)

33. Gogebic County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,997 people (377 unemployed)

33. Tuscola County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,715 people (1,560 unemployed)

33. Saginaw County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 85,662 people (5,416 unemployed)

32. Otsego County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,701 people (744 unemployed)

31. Sanilac County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,022 people (1,311 unemployed)

30. Mason County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,062 people (867 unemployed)

29. Mecosta County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,772 people (1,319 unemployed)

27. Antrim County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,218 people (714 unemployed)

27. Keweenaw County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,002 people (70 unemployed)

26. Kalkaska County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,190 people (582 unemployed)

24. Emmet County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,438 people (1,236 unemployed)

24. Delta County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: +2.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,877 people (1,271 unemployed)

22. Iron County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,747 people (368 unemployed)

22. Manistee County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,798 people (761 unemployed)

21. Gladwin County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,435 people (822 unemployed)

18. Iosco County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.1%
--- 1-month change: +2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,726 people (873 unemployed)

18. Clare County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,933 people (965 unemployed)

18. Crawford County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,585 people (453 unemployed)

17. Oceana County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,495 people (948 unemployed)

16. Chippewa County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.3%
--- 1-month change: +2.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,779 people (1,401 unemployed)

14. Luce County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,124 people (178 unemployed)

14. Ontonagon County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,119 people (179 unemployed)

13. Lake County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,234 people (358 unemployed)

11. Ogemaw County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.7%
--- 1-month change: +2.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,493 people (737 unemployed)

11. Baraga County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.7%
--- 1-month change: +2.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,295 people (288 unemployed)

10. Arenac County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,141 people (539 unemployed)

9. Schoolcraft County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.3%
--- 1-month change: +2.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,360 people (312 unemployed)

8. Alcona County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.9%
--- 1-month change: +2.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,645 people (361 unemployed)

7. Roscommon County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.6%
--- 1-month change: +2.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +3.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,391 people (891 unemployed)

5. Montmorency County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.8%
--- 1-month change: +3.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,265 people (354 unemployed)

5. Presque Isle County (tie)

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 10.8%
--- 1-month change: +3.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,166 people (560 unemployed)

4. Alger County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 11.2%
--- 1-month change: +2.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,335 people (372 unemployed)

3. Oscoda County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 12.2%
--- 1-month change: +2.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +3.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,772 people (338 unemployed)

2. Cheboygan County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 12.9%
--- 1-month change: +4.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,090 people (1,300 unemployed)

1. Mackinac County

December unemployment rate (preliminary): 17.9%
--- 1-month change: +8.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +3.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,509 people (809 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.