Detroit Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Detroit area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Detroit area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,150)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
4.7
Detroit area
3.6
4.7
Macomb Co.
3.6
3.8
Oakland Co.
2.8
5.5
St. Clair Co.
4.0
5.6
Wayne Co.
0.0
4.3
2.0
4.0
May-16
6.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Percent
Detroit area employment
(numbers in thousands)
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
May-14
Detroit area
May-15
United States
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from May
May 2017
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
42.3
8.1
1.5
2.1
-0.2
2.8
11.7
3.1
8.0
-0.4
5.6
2.1
11.5
0.6
0.6
-0.7
2.5
3.0
1.0
4.0
-0.5
3.0
2,027.4
78.3
246.2
366.8
28.1
114.5
406.4
314.1
206.1
76.5
190.4
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2017
14.0
12.0
10.0
Percent
4.0
12.4
Detroit area
U.S. city average
3.0
2.0
9.3
8.0
1.0
6.0
0.0
4.0
2.0
2.3
-1.0
2.2
-2.0
0.5
0.0
-2.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
-3.0
-0.4
All Items
Food
-4.0
Energy
-5.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
Detroit area average annual expenditures 2014-15
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Automobile and light truck manufacturing
May-15
Housing
$18,356
30.3%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,254
12.0%
Food
$7,356
12.2%
Transportation
$11,357
18.8%
$23.86
38.88
36.89
Registered nurses
35.50
34.70
Construction laborers
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing
clerks
19.61
18.22
19.49
19.34
Office clerks, general
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers, hand
16.62
15.87
14.23
13.81
12.76
13.07
12.56
12.82
12.25
12.99
10.43
11.73
9.72
9.89
Waiters and waitresses
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
$24.50
Stock clerks and order fillers
Janitors and cleaners, except maids
and housekeeping cleaners
Total:
$60,485
United
States
Accountants and auditors
Retail salespersons
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, March 2017
Detroit area
Total, all occupations
Healthcare
$4,334
7.2%
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$11,828
19.6%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
East North
Central (1)
$30.80
21.39
9.41
2.12
1.16
0.88
2.75
1.22
2.44
(1) East North Central includes IL, IN, MI, OH, and WI.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
4.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Detroit area
United States
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Midwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/ • 312-353-1880
Mar-16
Mar-17