DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan Capitol) -- Michigan added a modest number of jobs in the first quarter of 2026, with statewide employment climbing 0.3 percent over the year to 4,357,500, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
The figures come from the agency's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program and cover jobs held by workers covered by state Unemployment Insurance programs.
Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Saginaw County, with employment of 79,480, recorded the largest over-the-year increase among the state's ten largest counties, growing 1.4 percent.
Wayne County remained the state's employment engine, with 718,144 jobs in March 2026. Together, the ten largest counties accounted for 68.7 percent of all covered employment in Michigan.
Not every large county grew. Ingham County lost 2.2 percent of its jobs over the year, while Oakland County shed 1.7 percent. Kent and Ottawa each fell 0.5 percent.
Wage growth told a mixed story as well. Average weekly wages rose 3.9 percent statewide to $1,445, matching the national pace of growth. Michigan ranked 24th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in wage level and 22nd in wage growth.
Among the ten large counties, six posted wage gains below the 3.9 percent national average. Macomb County led with a 6.1 percent increase, while Kalamazoo lagged at 1.3 percent.
Wayne County's average weekly wage of $1,684 came in above the national average of $1,654. Oakland followed at $1,640, and Genesee County recorded the lowest wage among the large counties at $1,146.
The data also highlighted the state's smaller counties, which all reported average weekly wages below the national figure. Calhoun County posted the highest small-county wage at $1,495, while Keweenaw County recorded the lowest in the state at $693.
The next release of county employment and wage data for Michigan is scheduled for December 2, 2026.