Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.4% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 1,800 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2021.
Total employment in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI market declined by 144 jobs in February and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 5.4%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 26 bps over the same time to 6.6%.
- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI unemployment rate is 115 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 230 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) declined in February versus prior month by -0.3% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.5% . Key sectors include:
- Transportation & Utilities: 25,700; -200
- Education & Healthcare: 24,500; +200
- Manufacturing: 21,800; no change
- Government: 19,100; +200
- Business Services: 15,600; +100
- Restaurants & Hotels: 11,800; +1,800
- Financial Services: 7,800; +100
- Construction, Mining: 6,300; -200
- Other Jobs: 4,700; +100
- IT & Development: 800; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through February 2021 (Data published April 2021 and reports created on April 9, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.