Detroit metro unemployment reaches 5.5% in September

Detroit-area job seekers face a slightly softer labor market heading into fall. Michigan’s October 15 employment release puts September unemployment in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area at 5.5%, up from 5.4% in August. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

What the report shows

Metro-area employment declined by 7,000 during the month, while unemployment increased by 1,000. Statewide, the unemployment rate held at 5.0%, and nonfarm payroll employment fell by 6,000. Construction and manufacturing each added 1,000 payroll jobs in September.

The metro figure covers a broader region than Detroit city. It should not be read as the city’s unemployment rate, and industry totals do not identify individual employers with open positions.

What to do with this information

For a job seeker, the useful response is a focused search. Choose two or three job titles that fit your experience, compare the requirements across several current postings, and adapt your resume to show relevant results. Confirm each vacancy on the employer’s application page before investing time in an application.

Track the job title, application date, employer contact and next follow-up date. Before attending a hiring event, prepare a brief introduction and questions about the shift, location, hiring process and required credentials.

Your next move

Use MichiganHired.com to explore job listings, review the employer directory, and check Hired In Michigan’s job-fair page for event information. Employment totals describe the market; an active posting and a conversation with the employer tell you more about a specific opportunity.