This article is part of an ongoing, county by county overview of the Tri-County Area. This article covers the employment and housing permit trends in Eaton County. Information on employment and housing permits over time is powerful because it shows whether a region’s economy and housing supply are moving in sync or drifting apart.

Figure 1 illustrates trends in single-family and multifamily building permits in Eaton County between 2014 and 2024. During this period, 177 multifamily permits were authorized. Because a multifamily permit typically authorizes a structure containing multiple housing units, these projects can add a meaningful number of units to the local housing supply and help address the ongoing shortage of multifamily housing.^[1]

In addition to multifamily development, single-family housing permits remained relatively consistent between 2014 and 2024, with the highest level occurring in 2016. Even during the peak years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021), single-family permits remained higher than in 2019, indicating that residential construction activity continued despite broader economic disruptions.

Figure 1: Comparison of Single and Multifamily Permits in Eaton County, 2014-2024

 

Source: Points Consulting using Michigan Capital Region Data Hub

Figure 2 displays employment trends in Eaton County between 2014 and 2024. Like much of the United States, employment declined in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, employment has increased each year since 2021, and by 2024 total employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels, indicating that Eaton County’s labor market has not only recovered but has expanded since the pandemic.

Figure 2: Total Annual Employment in Eaton County

 

Source: Points Consulting using Michigan Capital Region Data Hub

Employment growth and stability can shape how many housing permits are issued and how quickly development occurs. When a community adds jobs, housing demand increases as more households form or move into the area. Strong employment stability reduces risk for developers and lenders, increasing their willingness to finance housing projects when job losses are unlikely and default risk is low.

Figure 3 illustrates the ratio of units permitted per job gained in Eaton County between 2014 and 2024. Overall, employment growth has generally outpaced housing production, indicating that more jobs have been added than housing units permitted during much of the period. However, adding an additional job to an existing business typically takes less time than obtaining permits and completing the construction of a new home. The ratio has consistently shown employment growth outpacing housing permitting excluding the pandemic years.

Figure 3: Units Permitted per Job Gained, Eaton County, 2014-2024

Source: Points Consulting using Michigan Capital Region Data Hub

In 2017, the ratio was 0.5, meaning that for every two jobs added only one unit was permitted. A notable downward trend occurred between 2019 and 2020 where the ratio fell to a negative value of 0.2. Although 99 housing units were permitted, the decline in employment caused the ratio to turn negative. Job losses in the Professional and Business Services and Leisure and Hospitality sectors during the early stages of the pandemic likely contributed to this decline.^[2] This metric is important to monitor because employment growth that outpaces housing permitting can place upward pressure on housing prices.