2021 Economic Outlook: Albion
St. Joseph County April 2022
The Trend: St. Joseph County gained 275 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. From December to January, the labor force participation rate and the employment-to-population ratio fell, while the unemployment rate increased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are still looking for work or leaving the labor force entirely. Job postings were higher in January than in December, with retail sales associate as the most in-demand job.
Kalamazoo County April 2022
The Trend: Kalamazoo County added 1497 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. Between December and January, the unemployment rate increased and the labor force participation rate and employment-to-population ratio decreased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are still looking for work or leaving the labor force. Job postings were higher in January than in December, with retail sales associate as the most in-demand job.
Calhoun County April 2022
The Trend: Calhoun County employment increased from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021 by 322 jobs. Between December and January, the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate both increased while the employment-to-population rate decreased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are still looking for work. Job postings were
higher in January than in December, with registered nurse as the most
in-demand job.
Branch County April 2022
The Trend: Branch County employment grew, experiencing an increase of 217 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. Between December and January, the unemployment rate increased and the labor force participation rate and employment-to-population ratio decreased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are still looking for work or leaving the labor force. Job postings were lower in January than in December, with phlebotomist as the most in-demand position.
NQHI March 2022
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for March 2022 edges up a hair, and hiring volume for high school graduates remains high
NHQI August 2019
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for August 2019 up 1.2 percent from last year, changing mix of prime-age workers leads the way
NHQI September 2019
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for September up 1.6 percent from last year, but Black workers are not fully sharing this gain
NHQI March 2024
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index rises 0.1 percent in March 2024, but volume falls sharply as fewer workers change employers
St. Joseph County May 2022
The Trend: St. Joseph County gained 275 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. From January to February, the labor force participation rate and the employment-to-population ratio increased, while the unemployment rate held steady. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are reentering the labor force. Job postings were lower in February than in January, with retail sales associate as the most in-demand job.
Kalamazoo County May 2022
The Trend: Kalamazoo County added 1,497 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. Between January and February, the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, and employment-to-population ratio all increased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are reentering the labor force and looking for work. Job postings were lower in February than in January, with registered nurse as the most in-demand job.
Calhoun County May 2022
The Trend: Calhoun County employment increased from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021 by 322 jobs. Between January and February, the unemployment rate was unchanged, and the employment-to-population rate and labor force participation rate both increased. This is likely a sign that people are reentering the labor force and finding work. Job postings were lower in February than in January, with registered nurse as the most in-demand job.
Branch County May 2022
The Trend: Branch County employment grew, experiencing an increase of 217 jobs from Q2 2021 to Q3 2021. Between January and February, the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate increased, and the employment-to-population ratio was unchanged. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are still looking for work. Job postings were higher in February than in January, with retail sales associate as the most in-demand position.
Branch County November 2021
The Trend: Branch County employment declined, with a decrease of 231 jobs from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021. Between July and August, the unemployment rate and labor force participation rate fell, and the employment-to-population ratio increased. This is likely a sign that unemployed individuals are either leaving the labor market or finding work. Job postings were higher in August than in July, with truck driver as the most in-demand job.
Emilie Jackson
Emilie Jackson is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Michigan State University. Her research is in the fields of public and labor economics and her recent work uses U.S. tax data to explore the implications of the recent growth in gig employment opportunities (e.g. Uber, Lyft, TaskRabbit, etc.) for individuals facing unemployment shocks. She quantifies the take-up of gig work during unemployment and evaluates the ability to smooth income in the short run. Furthermore, she evaluates the long-run implications for workers’ labor supply, skill acquisition, and earnings trajectories.
Max Risch
Max Risch is an Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business. His research addresses topics in public finance and labor economics. He uses novel administrative datasets to analyze the relationship between public policies and the distribution of income. One strand of his research investigates how firm-worker relationships mediate responses to tax policy and how public policies in turn influence the form of firm-worker relationships. See his 2019 paper Independent Contractors in the U.S.: New Trends from 15 years of Administrative Tax Data, co-authored with Katherine Lim, Alicia Miller, and Eleanor Wilking. Another strand of his research analyzes the role of tax evasion and tax enforcement for real and measured income inequality. He received his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Michigan.
NHQI October 2021
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for October 2021 continues to hold steady for wages but volume dips; Blacks continue to close gap with Whites
NHQI July 2020
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for July 2020 nearly unchanged over year and month, plus special Labor Day look at actual real wage growth
NHQI August 2020
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for August 2020 up 0.3 percent over year and month, back at all-time high, as volume continues to be elevated
NHQI September 2020
Upjohn Institute New Hires Quality Index for September 2020 holds steady near all-time high, and Blacks and Hispanics show resilience in index