Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in August from 4.9% in July, the state reported on September 17. The number of unemployed people was unchanged at 241,000, while employment and the labor force each fell by 25,000. The rate therefore rose even without an increase in the reported number of unemployed residents.
The separate employer survey showed roughly 4.496 million nonfarm payroll jobs, down about 2,000 over the month. Manufacturing accounted for the largest reported monthly sector loss, also about 2,000 jobs. Payroll employment remained about 8,000 above a year earlier.
Household employment and employer payroll jobs are different measures and should not be added together. The August estimates describe a past month, can be revised and do not establish conditions in October. The state’s publication schedule distinguishes its statewide and Detroit-area report from the later local-area release.