Michigan Unemployment Jumps Under Whitmer

New data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) show Michigan’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate jumped significantly from December, 2025 to January, 2026. 

Unemployment increased by 0.8% after the adjustment, which represents tens of thousands of jobs – a testament to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s failed economic policies. Despite giving billions to some of the largest corporations in Michigan and bulldozing homes for non-existent “economic investment” projects, the job market continues to suffer under the governor’s leadership.

Unsurprisingly, Gretchen Whitmer’s job approval has also sharply declined. From February to March, the number of people happy with her job performance dropped 11 points, plummeting all the way down to 43%.

“Michiganders are starting to see the failures of Gretchen Whitmer’s administration over and over again in their daily lives,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “The number of jobs is down, their energy costs are up, and after almost eight years of Whitmer, Michigan is doing worse than ever.”