January 2026
Released April 08, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In January, Michigan added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Michigan’s private sector lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 6,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Michigan fell by 9,664, and over the past 12 months it fell by 62,663.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.6 percent in January from 60.7 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Michigan added 800 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan lost 1,200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Michigan lost 100 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From December 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-3,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+12,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+10,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-6,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,500).
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 60.6 percent in January from 60.7 percent in the prior month.
Michigan ranks 38th 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.