TRAVERSE CITY — Jobless numbers in the Grand Traverse area and across Northwest Michigan were down in March from February, but remain elevated from a year ago.
The monthly unemployment report for March from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed that jobless rates dropped last month in 16 of 18 major labor markets from February’s totals, but all 18 showed higher jobless levels from March 2024. All of the data is not seasonally adjusted, which means it’s actual numbers that are not adjusted to reflect typical seasonal fluctuations.
“Michigan’s regional labor markets were relatively stable between February and March although unemployment remained elevated in all areas since last year,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Total payroll jobs increased in most metro areas, with several industries showing strong seasonal gains.”
The newly-established Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for Traverse City — which includes Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie and Kalkaska counties — showed a jobless rate of 5.6 percent for March, down from 6 percent recorded in February but up from 4.6 percent in March 2024. Total employment in the four-county area increased to 77,100 in March which was a slight increase from a year ago, but the civilian workforce grew over the year by 3.2 percent to 81,800 which led to the increased jobless rate from last year.
The 10-county Northwest Michigan Labor Market Area (LMA) recorded a 6.6 percent jobless rate in March, down from 7 percent in February but up from 5.5 percent a year ago. That area includes the four counties in the Traverse City MSA plus Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Manistee and Missaukee counties. The number of unemployed workers in the 10-county region increased by 2,000 from a year ago, a 23.5 percent increase, while the total of employed workers increased just 1.1 percent over the year to 147,600.
The 10-county Northeast Michigan LMA recorded a 10.3 percent jobless rate, down from 11 percent in February but up from 8.6 percent in March 2024. That’s the highest rate among Michigan’s 18 labor market areas.
Statewide, Michigan’s jobless rate came in at 5.7 percent in March. That’s down from 6 percent in February and up from 4.3 percent in from March 2024. The national unemployment rate for March was 4.2 percent.
The Traverse City MSA continued to show strength in payroll job growth in March. The Traverse City area payroll jobs increased 3.4 percent from a year ago, the highest growth in the state and almost double the 1.8 growth in payroll jobs in the Midland MSA. Industries that showed the biggest increases statewide were the leisure/hospitality and construction sectors.
By county, Grand Traverse recorded a 5 percent jobless rate last month, tenth-lowest in Michigan. Other area counties and their state ranking include Leelanau at 5.8 percent (22nd), Charlevoix at 6.6 percent (38th), Wexford at 7.3 percent (49th), Benzie at 7.4 percent (50th), Kalkaska at 7.6 percent ((53rd), Antrim at 8 percent (57th), Emmet at 8.4 percent (62nd) and Cheboygan at 15.4 percent (82nd). Eighty-two of Michigan’s 83 counties had higher jobless numbers from March over a year ago.