For Almost 50 Years Michigan’s Unemployment Rate Has Been Worse Than the US Average

By Sam Stebbins Published Dec 28, 8:20AM EST

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

For Almost 50 Years Michigan’s Unemployment Rate Has Been Worse Than the US Average — © Brand Diverse Solutions Steven Barber / iStock via Getty Images

In an era of economic uncertainty, the U.S. job market remains resilient. After falling to 3.7% in November 2023, the national unemployment rate has been below 4% for 22 consecutive months, the longest streak in over 50 years.

Of course, if history is any guide, much of the economy is subject to boom and bust cycles — and the job market is no exception. Since the mid-1970s, the average annual unemployment rate in the U.S. has fluctuated between 3.6% and nearly 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These same cyclical patterns are also evident in Michigan, where the job market is supported largely by the manufacturing and retail trade industries. The annual unemployment rate in the state was 4.2% in 2022, only slightly higher than the state’s lowest recorded annual jobless rate of 3.6%. However, conditions for job seekers have not always been so favorable.

According to historical BLS data going back to 1976, the annual jobless rate has been as high as 15.4% in Michigan. More than once, unemployment in the state has either matched or come close to that peak.

This is how Michigan’s job market has changed in each of the last 47 years.

1976: 9.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.4% (7.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.7% (61.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 375,056

1977: 8.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.2% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (62.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 337,939

1978: 7.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.0% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.6% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 296,859

1979: 7.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.3% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 339,231

1980: 12.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 12.3% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.0% (63.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 531,279

1981: 12.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 12.4% (7.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.4% (63.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 532,261

1982: 15.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 15.4% (9.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.3% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 662,859

1983: 14.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 14.4% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.5% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 617,154

1984: 11.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 11.2% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.9% (64.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 484,805

1985: 10.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 10.0% (7.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (64.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 436,559

1986: 8.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.8% (7.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (65.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 391,816

1987: 8.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.3% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.0% (65.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 377,221

1988: 7.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.5% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.3% (65.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 344,509

1989: 7.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.1% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.0% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 330,618

1990: 7.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.6% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 353,539

1991: 9.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.2% (6.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.0% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 426,685

1992: 9.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.0% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (66.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 424,245

1993: 7.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.2% (6.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.8% (66.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 347,057

1994: 6.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.0% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.5% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 292,697

1995: 5.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.3% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 257,276

1996: 4.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.9% (5.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.5% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 239,907

1997: 4.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.0% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 212,570

1998: 3.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.9% (4.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.5% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 199,520

1999: 3.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.7% (4.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.3% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 191,761

2000: 3.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.6% (4.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.6% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 187,817

2001: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (4.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.9% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 266,726

2002: 6.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.3% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.1% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 311,436

2003: 7.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.2% (6.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.7% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 357,218

2004: 7.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.0% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 352,186

2005: 6.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.8% (5.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.5% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 343,901

2006: 7.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.0% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.1% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 355,349

2007: 7.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.0% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 354,668

2008: 8.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.0% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.2% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 402,532

2009: 13.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 13.7% (9.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.5% (65.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 638,574

2010: 12.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 12.6% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (64.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 580,853

2011: 10.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 10.4% (8.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.2% (64.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 467,194

2012: 9.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.1% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.1% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 423,499

2013: 8.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.8% (7.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.5% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 413,509

2014: 7.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.2% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.6% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 343,703

2015: 5.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.4% (62.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 258,391

2016: 5.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.0% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.2% (62.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 241,690

2017: 4.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.6% (4.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.4% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 225,394

2018: 4.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.1% (3.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.6% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 205,713

2019: 4.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.1% (3.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.8% (63.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 202,560

2020: 9.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.9% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 60.3% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 483,886

2021: 5.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.9% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.3% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 277,993

2022: 4.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.2% (3.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 59.9% (62.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Michigan: 203,427

Year	Michigan unemployment rate	U.S. unemployment rate	Unemployed population in Michigan
1976	9.4	7.7	375,056
1977	8.2	7.1	337,939
1978	7.0	6.1	296,859
1979	7.8	5.8	339,231
1980	12.3	7.1	531,279
1981	12.4	7.6	532,261
1982	15.4	9.7	662,859
1983	14.4	9.6	617,154
1984	11.2	7.5	484,805
1985	10.0	7.2	436,559
1986	8.8	7.0	391,816
1987	8.3	6.2	377,221
1988	7.5	5.5	344,509
1989	7.1	5.3	330,618
1990	7.6	5.6	353,539
1991	9.2	6.8	426,685
1992	9.0	7.5	424,245
1993	7.2	6.9	347,057
1994	6.0	6.1	292,697
1995	5.3	5.6	257,276
1996	4.9	5.4	239,907
1997	4.3	4.9	212,570
1998	3.9	4.5	199,520
1999	3.7	4.2	191,761
2000	3.6	4.0	187,817
2001	5.2	4.7	266,726
2002	6.3	5.8	311,436
2003	7.2	6.0	357,218
2004	7.0	5.5	352,186
2005	6.8	5.1	343,901
2006	7.0	4.6	355,349
2007	7.0	4.6	354,668
2008	8.0	5.8	402,532
2009	13.7	9.3	638,574
2010	12.6	9.6	580,853
2011	10.4	8.9	467,194
2012	9.1	8.1	423,499
2013	8.8	7.4	413,509
2014	7.2	6.2	343,703
2015	5.4	5.3	258,391
2016	5.0	4.9	241,690
2017	4.6	4.4	225,394
2018	4.1	3.9	205,713
2019	4.1	3.7	202,560
2020	9.9	8.1	483,886
2021	5.9	5.3	277,993
2022	4.2	3.6	203,427

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at a673b.bigscoots-temp.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.