Overall unemployment rate moved up to 4.4% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.

Total employment in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI market declined by 1,266 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 4.4%. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.

  • Kalamazoo-Portage, MI unemployment rate is 3 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 190 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 9.1% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Unemployment January 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.6%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 26,700; -500
  • Education & Healthcare: 24,900; -200
  • Manufacturing: 23,000; -400
  • Government: 19,700; -400
  • Business Services: 16,900; -400
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 13,600; no change
  • Financial Services: 7,400; -100
  • Construction, Mining: 6,400; -400
  • Other Jobs: 5,300; no change
  • IT & Development: 800; no change
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Unemployment by Industry January 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.