The WIN Q1 2026 Labor Market Reports and infographics are now available. These reports provide essential insights into workforce trends across the City of Detroit and the 19-county WIN Region. New this year, each report includes a one-page Labor Market Summary infographic that offers a comprehensive snapshot of local workforce conditions. The infographic presents a wealth of labor market information in an easy-to-read format, including real-time job posting data across eleven occupational groups and key indicators that highlight critical labor market trends and dynamics. 
Q1 2026 key highlights include:
Labor Force & Employment
- WIN Region: The labor market softened during Q1 2026. Compared to Q4 2025, the labor force declined by 40,458 individuals (1.3%) while employment decreased by 54,355 workers (1.8%). The unemployment rate increased modestly from 4.8% to 5.4%.
- City of Detroit: The labor force increased by 2,074 individuals to 265,961, while employment remained relatively stable at 237,661 (down 98 workers). The unemployment rate increased slightly to 10.6%.
Employer demand strengthened across both regions during the first quarter of 2026.
- WIN Region: Employers posted 274,010 unique job postings, a 15.8% increase (37,406 additional postings) compared to Q4 2025. Monthly average postings reached 152,078, exceeding both the previous quarter and Q1 2025.
- City of Detroit: Employers posted 35,083 unique job postings, a 25.3% increase (7,074 additional postings) compared to Q4 2025.
Top Occupational Demand
- WIN Region: Customer Service remained the highest-demand occupation group with 69,571 postings, followed by Health Care (53,346) and Business & Finance (38,357). Registered Nurses continued to be the region's most in-demand occupation with 12,512 postings.
- City of Detroit: Business & Finance remained the largest occupation group with 7,400 postings, followed by Health Care (6,273) and Energy (3,277).
- WIN Region: A Bachelor's degree remained the most frequently requested credential, appearing in 27.1% of job postings, followed by a High School diploma or equivalent (23.2%).
- City of Detroit: A Bachelor's degree remained the most frequently requested credential, appearing in 42.2% of job postings.
- Skills & Employer Trends
Across both regions, employers continued to prioritize communication, leadership, customer service, project management, operations, and problem-solving skills. Hiring activity remained strongest among healthcare providers, professional services firms, government agencies, educational institutions, and advanced manufacturing employers, reflecting continued demand for both technical expertise and durable workplace skills.
View the Full Reports and Infographics at winintelligence.org.lmr
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