September 2025

Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Michigan

Employment snapshot

• In September, Michigan added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 36,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Michigan’s private sector added 2,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 25,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Michigan fell by 2,721, and over the past 12 months it fell by 22,735.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.3 percent in September from 61.5 percent and is tied for 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Michigan

Payroll employment

• Michigan added 1,600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,500 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 2,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Michigan added 2,800 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+4,200) and Professional and Business Services (+2,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-4,800) and State and Local Government (-1,200).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+13,100) and State and Local Government (+12,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-8,500) and Manufacturing (-8,500).

Michigan

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Michigan fell to 61.3 percent in September from 61.5 percent in the prior month.

• Michigan is tied for 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.