Detroit

blue

Axios Detroit Partners

Axios Detroit

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Detroit.

Axios Detroit Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Detroit Alerts

Alert

Detroit Members

Membership

Whats Next

Axios What's Next

Data: DoorDash; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios

Despite tough times in the restaurant industry, the vast majority of eateries using DoorDash in Detroit in 2024 remained open a year later, per new data from the company.

Why it matters: Churn is normal in the restaurant industry, but it has recorded significantly more instability since the pandemic.

Yet, the National Restaurant Association regarded 2025 as a year of "cautious optimism."

By the numbers: DoorDash recorded Detroit's restaurant resiliency rate as 94.4%. The company based its figures on how many restaurants active on DoorDash in September 2024 remained open a year later.

Plus, Detroit was among the top 10 cities for new restaurants joining DoorDash.

How it works: The data is part of DoorDash's new State of Local Commerce report, which features a bounty of metrics on restaurant trends and more across the 100 most populous U.S. cities.

Reality check: One year of survival isn't nothing, but business closure rates tend to rise on longer time horizons.

What they're saying: A central challenge for restaurants right now is getting people in the door, especially on weekdays when traffic is down significantly, says Nico Gatzaros, co-owner of longtime downtown spot London Chop House.

As people spend more of their income on monthly living essentials, they have less for a Monday or Wednesday night out.

Plus: He's seeing a 30% increase in health insurance premiums — a "real killer" for businesses, says Gatzaros, who also co-owns new oyster bar Ostrea and Metro Detroit-area Fishbones restaurants.

In a bit of good news, he says, the cost of ingredients seems to be trickling down.

The bottom line: "I think it's going to be a bright future," Gatzaros says, referencing his expectation for a surge in traffic downtown in the next 12-18 months with the riverwalk expansion and buildings like Hudson's coming online.

Detroit's restaurants are surviving, per DoorDash data

DoorDash data shows the vast majority of Detroit's restaurants survived 2024-25 despite tough challenges.

A symbol map of the U.S. showing the share of restaurants in select cities that were open in September 2024 and remained open in September 2025, based on DoorDash data. Lincoln, Neb. leads at 97.3%, while Fremont, Calif. trails at 87.6%. The national figure is 93%.

Despite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tough times" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/us-restaurant-industry-closures-cost-cutting" data-vars-content-id="1e027980-05a7-4a8f-824a-ad6327191921" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s restaurants are surviving, per DoorDash data" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/us-restaurant-industry-closures-cost-cutting" target="_self">tough times</a> in the restaurant industry, the vast majority of eateries using DoorDash in Detroit in 2024 remained open a year later, per new data from the company.Why it matters: Churn is normal in the restaurant industry, but it has recorded significantly more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="instability since the pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/12/17/2024-detroit-restaurant-openings-closings-inflation" data-vars-content-id="1e027980-05a7-4a8f-824a-ad6327191921" data-vars-headline="Detroit&#x27;s restaurants are surviving, per DoorDash data" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/12/17/2024-detroit-restaurant-openings-closings-inflation" target="_self">instability since the pandemic</a>.

Food and Drink

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Michigan had the country's fourth-highest unemployment rate last month as job-seekers across the country face grim prospects.

The big picture: Americans are feeling almost as gloomy about the job market as they did during the Great Recession — and entry-level workers are having an especially hard time getting their foot in the door.

Zoom in: Michigan's 5.3% July unemployment rate trails only Washington, D.C. (6%), California (5.5%) and Nevada (5.4%), according to seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What they're saying: Our unemployment rate held steady from last month, Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan's Center for Data and Analytics, said in a statement.

Small decreases in employment and unemployment caused the state's workforce to drop slightly.

"Seasonally adjusted payroll jobs rose slightly over the month due to a majority of industries remaining stable or showing slight job additions," he said.

Context: Michigan's unemployment rate has been relatively flat for the last three months, but it's up a half-percentage point from July 2024.

Yes, but: Some industries increased jobs over the past year.

The largest gains were in private education and health services (22,000 more jobs), government (13,000 more), and construction (10,000 more), according to the state.

Zoom out: Michigan may be an unemployment leader among states, but the job market is in bad shape generally, Axios' Emily Peck writes.

Workers are feeling high levels of job anxiety. There's also increasing fear that AI will come for their jobs.

Tens of thousands of federal workers faced layoffs this summer as part of President Trump's government-efficiency push, although some agencies have since scaled back plans to cut jobs.

The bottom line: The good news is that the unemployment rate is still relatively low, and, outside the federal government, so are layoffs.

Michigan jobless rate ranks 4th-highest in U.S.

Michigan had the country's fourth-highest unemployment rate last month

A choropleth map of the U.S. showing the percentage point difference between states' unemployment rates in July 2025 and the national rate of 4.2%. Washington, D.C. had the biggest positive difference (+1.8pp), while South Dakota had the biggest negative difference (-2.3pp).

Michigan had the country&#x27;s fourth-highest unemployment rate last month as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="job-seekers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/labor-market" data-vars-content-id="32939e16-74a5-45b8-9b21-0546cbb4e906" data-vars-headline="Michigan jobless rate ranks 4th-highest in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/labor-market" target="_self">job-seekers</a> across the country face grim prospects.The big picture: Americans are feeling <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="almost as gloomy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/16/job-market-great-recession" data-vars-content-id="32939e16-74a5-45b8-9b21-0546cbb4e906" data-vars-headline="Michigan jobless rate ranks 4th-highest in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/16/job-market-great-recession" target="_self">almost as gloomy</a> about the job market as they did during the Great Recession — and entry-level workers are having an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="especially hard time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/19/trump-tariffs-jobs-gen-z" data-vars-content-id="32939e16-74a5-45b8-9b21-0546cbb4e906" data-vars-headline="Michigan jobless rate ranks 4th-highest in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/19/trump-tariffs-jobs-gen-z" target="_self">especially hard time</a> getting their foot in the door.

News

While places like San Francisco and Seattle are known for high early-career salaries, it's worth paying attention to areas seeing rapid growth in entry-level wages, too.

Why it matters: Detroit and Michigan have set their sights on reversing sluggish population growth and drawing in more young professionals.

Many young adults here say they'd rather head elsewhere.

Yes, but: Metro Detroit is on the low end when it comes to 2020-25 growth in average early-career salaries — about 3.9% annually, according to a recent Glassdoor report.

Data: Glassdoor; Note: Rank includes 65 metro areas with at least 1,000 salary submissions; Chart: Axios Visuals

By the numbers: While Metro Detroit isn't in the bottom 10, it's not far from it, ranking a fraction of a percent above some of the slowest growth rates in Dayton, Des Moines and elsewhere.

Cities with high annual growth rates include Provo, Utah (7%) and Boise, Idaho (5.5%).

How it works: That's based on more than five million salary datapoints from Glassdoor users "with 0-4 years of relevant experience in their current job from January 2020 through October 31, 2025," and among metro areas with at least 1,000 salary datapoints per year.

The big picture: "It's difficult to start your career during a soft labor market, but there is a silver lining: earnings growth is on the rise for workers with 0-4 years of experience, and 2026 will be the first year that these workers' purchasing power exceeds 2020 levels," per Glassdoor's report.

"For early career workers considering where to pursue their next career step, these rising cities represent good opportunities to grow your earnings even though they may not offer the highest salaries."

Zoom in: Entry-level earnings growth also varies by education level.

Over the last decade, entry-level wages among Michigan students grew 43% for certificate earners, 25% for bachelor's holders and just 1.5% for master's or higher, according to the Center for Educational Performance and Information.

Still, higher postsecondary education levels correlate with higher overall pay.

Metro Detroit sees slow entry-level wage growth

The city and state want to attract young professionals — but is pay growing quickly enough?

Downtown buildings shown in a row, with tall towers

Downtown Detroit. Photo: Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images

While places like San Francisco and Seattle are known for high early-career salaries, it&#x27;s worth paying attention to areas seeing rapid growth in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="entry-level wages" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/jobs-young-adults-labor-market" data-vars-content-id="3535ef1a-b809-4ae2-ab13-d70378c347fc" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit sees slow entry-level wage growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/10/jobs-young-adults-labor-market" target="_self">entry-level wages</a>, too.Why it matters: Detroit and Michigan have set their sights on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reversing sluggish population growth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.michigan.gov/mcda/reports/michigan-statewide-population-projections-through-2050-report" data-vars-content-id="3535ef1a-b809-4ae2-ab13-d70378c347fc" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit sees slow entry-level wage growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.michigan.gov/mcda/reports/michigan-statewide-population-projections-through-2050-report" target="_blank">reversing sluggish population growth</a> and drawing in more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="young professionals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.crainsdetroit.com/workforce/gilbert-state-leaders-pitch-detroit-young-professionals" data-vars-content-id="3535ef1a-b809-4ae2-ab13-d70378c347fc" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit sees slow entry-level wage growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.crainsdetroit.com/workforce/gilbert-state-leaders-pitch-detroit-young-professionals" target="_blank">young professionals</a>.

Money

Data: Climate Central; Note: Winter temperature threshold based on the coldest 90-day window; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios

Climate change has shaved more than a week off of Detroit's winters in recent years.

The big picture: This winter has been brutally cold, snowy and icy for millions of Americans — yet winters are getting shorter across most U.S. cities.

That's per a new analysis based on temperatures rather than calendar dates from Climate Central, a climate research group.

Zoom in: In Detroit, winter has been about eight days shorter since 1998 compared with the 1970s, '80s and earlier in the '90s.

That's roughly in line with trends in the other U.S. cities with shorter winters.

How it works: Climate Central defined "winter" as the coldest 90 days of the year in a row during the 1970-1997 period, then compared the frequency of those temperatures during the 1998-2025 period.

What they're saying: "The temperatures that have historically defined winter are now starting later and/or ending earlier in most U.S. cities," Climate Central says.

By the numbers: Detroit's winter has been colder than usual this season, monthly NWS temperature data shows.

Last month's average temp was 27.8 degrees, compared to February's historical average of 28 degrees between 1991 and 2020.

January had an average temp of 20.6 compared to the historical average of 25.8.

December 2025's average temp was 27.7 compared to the historical mark of 31.3.

The bottom line: Maybe Detroit's next winter will feel shorter than usual.

Detroit winters are getting shorter

A new Climate Central analysis finds winter now starts later and/or ends earlier in Detroit.

A U.S. map showing the change in average length of consecutive winter days from 1970-1997 to 1998-2025. 15 metro areas experienced 20 fewer days of winter, including Juneau, Alaska with 62 fewer days. Only metros experienced 20 more days: Eureka, California (50) and Monterey (46).

Climate change has shaved more than a week off of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Detroit&#x27;s winters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/21/arctic-cold-snap-subzero-temperatures-weather" data-vars-content-id="581960a2-986f-48d2-9b59-fc7e148a5830" data-vars-headline="Detroit winters are getting shorter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/01/21/arctic-cold-snap-subzero-temperatures-weather" target="_self">Detroit&#x27;s winters</a> in recent years.The big picture: This winter has been brutally cold, snowy and icy for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="millions of Americans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/blizzard-warning-travel-ban-new-york-jersey" data-vars-content-id="581960a2-986f-48d2-9b59-fc7e148a5830" data-vars-headline="Detroit winters are getting shorter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/blizzard-warning-travel-ban-new-york-jersey" target="_self">millions of Americans</a> — yet winters are getting shorter across most U.S. cities.

Climate

Data: U.S. Census; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals

Metro Detroit's modest population gains are flattening as immigration falls nationwide, new Census data shows.

Why it matters: Any local population increase is welcome after decades of decline.

Between the lines: The new data offers the best look yet at how tighter immigration enforcement is affecting America's demographic makeup.

Driving the news: Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties each saw population growth of less than 1% between 2024 and 2025, the Census Bureau says.

Context: Counties in the top 10 for population growth, mostly in southern states, saw increases between 4% and 6%.

The big picture: Michigan has eked out small population gains in recent years after prolonged stagnation, with new immigrants driving much of that growth.

The latest Census data suggests that momentum may be slowing again, with Metro Detroit reflecting that broader plateau.

By the numbers: Michigan's population was 10,127,884 as of July, up 0.3% (or 27,922 people) from July 2024.

Wayne County's population was 1.8 million, up 0.2%.

Macomb County had about 886,000 residents, a 0.4% increase.

Oakland County's population was 1.3 million, up 0.5%.

Zoom out: International migration fell in 90% of U.S. counties between 2024 and 2025 compared to the prior period, per the Census Bureau.

What they're saying: That drop is hitting populous areas especially hard.

In a statement, Census Bureau demographer George M. Hayward said: "The nation's largest counties ... are often international migration hubs, gaining large numbers of international migrants and losing people that move to other parts of the country via domestic migration."

"With fewer gains from international migration, these types of counties saw their population growth diminish or even turn into loss."

Yes, but: The U.S. overall still grew by 0.5% between 2024 and 2025.

But that's down from 1% over the previous period.

Nationwide natural change (births minus deaths) held steady, while international migration plummeted from about 2.8 million people to 1.3 million — about a 55% drop.

Caveat: The Census' international migration data includes both foreigners and Americans coming home from abroad, including military service members.

Metro Detroit growth slows amid immigration drop

New Census data shows slower growth in Metro Detroit as immigration declines nationwide.

AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,0

Metro Detroit&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="modest population gains" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/03/17/metro-detroit-adds-residents-census-shows" data-vars-content-id="eb02662b-03f9-4550-98ae-600fee6b74b4" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit growth slows amid immigration drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2025/03/17/metro-detroit-adds-residents-census-shows" target="_self">modest population gains</a> are flattening as immigration falls nationwide, new Census data shows.Why it matters: Any local population increase is welcome after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="decades of decline" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/detroit-us-census-population-1f1f2ef32a46d4310e95dfc5e9c5a2c4" data-vars-content-id="eb02662b-03f9-4550-98ae-600fee6b74b4" data-vars-headline="Metro Detroit growth slows amid immigration drop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/detroit-us-census-population-1f1f2ef32a46d4310e95dfc5e9c5a2c4" target="_blank">decades of decline</a>.

Finish Line: Let your geek flag fly

National

Axios Colorado Springs

SAVE Act impact measured for El Paso County

Colorado Springs

A map of the United States showing the estimated driving time to the nearest election office, without traffic, as of March 2026. Distance varies significantly by state. Much of New England, Wisconsin and Michigan are within 30 minutes of an election office. However, the closest election office can be three or more hours away in parts of the West.

Axios Visuals: 2026-03-26-save-distance

Data: OSRM, Federal Voting Assistance Program; Note: No data areas are those with no or extremely sparse roads; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals

AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,000: -1.2%. 

Alex Fitzpatrick

Featured stories

Finish Line: Let your geek flag fly

SAVE Act impact measured for El Paso County

Metro Detroit growth slows amid immigration drop

Metro Atlanta growth defies U.S. immigration-driven slowdown

Why San Antonio streets rank among the least safe