How many jobs were lost in Michigan last month?
Refreshed monthly
Michigan lost 2,200 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 45th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 4,700 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-2.2K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
45th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
Michigan’s job loss of 2,200 in August 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 7,400 gain in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Michigan gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 14th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+53,700) while job growth was weakest in October 2023 (-27,700).
There were 2,200 fewer jobs in August 2026 in Michigan than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Michigan sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were health care and social assistance, local government, and wholesale trade. Health care and social assistance added 1,600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Local government gained 1,000 jobs, while wholesale trade added 900. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were non-durable goods, other services, and accommodation and food services. non-durable goods lost 1,400 jobs in August 2026, while other services lost 1,300 jobs and accommodation and food services lost 1,200 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 1,600 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Michigan (August 2026)
How has Michigan's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Michigan lost an average of 558 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 533, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fifth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 18,100 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 8,600 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Michigan lost an average of 558 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 15 metro areas primarily in Michigan during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 900 jobs in the Detroit, MI area to a gain of 2,000 jobs in the Grand Rapids, MI area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Michigan
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +2,000 | |
| 2. | +600 | |
| 3. | +300 | |
| 4. | +200 | |
| 5. | +200 | |
| 6. | +200 | |
| 7. | +100 | |
| 8. | +100 | |
| 9. | +100 | |
| 10. | +100 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
