How many jobs were lost in Michigan last month?
Refreshed monthly
Michigan lost 6,300 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 43rd 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 4,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-6.3K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
43rd
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
September 2026's loss of 6,300 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in Michigan. Monthly job growth was down from the 4,600 lost jobs in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Michigan gained jobs in 41 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the eighth-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 6,300 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Michigan than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Michigan sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The supersector with the highest job growth in September 2026 was professional, scientific, and technical services. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 1,200 jobs, more than the entire economy. The remaining supersectors either posted job loss or no job change during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were health care and social assistance, other services, and accommodation and food services. Health care and social assistance lost 3,200 jobs in September 2026, while other services lost 1,800 jobs and accommodation and food services lost 1,600 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector lost 3,200 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Michigan (September 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 September 2026 ranged from a loss of 2,400 jobs in the Detroit, MI area to a gain of 100 jobs in the Monroe, 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. | +100 | |
| 2. | +0 | |
| 3. | +0 | |
| 4. | +0 | |
| 5. | -100 | |
| 6. | -200 | |
| 7. | -200 | |
| 8. | -200 | |
| 9. | -200 | |
| 10. | -300 |
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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.
