Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates decreased in 14 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in November, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels rose in the majority of regions in November.
“November was a favorable month in many of Michigan’s local labor markets,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “The only increases in unemployment were seasonal and expected in the state’s northern regions with the conclusion of the summer and fall tourism seasons.”
From October to November, the unemployment rate declines in the 14 regions were moderate, with a median decrease of a half percentage point. The largest over-the-month drop of 1.3 percentage points was reported in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Michigan’s three northernmost labor market regions recorded minor seasonal jobless rate increases of a half percentage point or less. In November, 16 of the state’s 17 major regions displayed jobless rates under 10.0 percent, while ten areas posted unemployment rates below the national non-seasonally adjusted November rate of 8.2 percent.
Jobless Rates Down Over Year
From November 2010 to November 2011, unemployment rates fell in all of the state’s 17 regions.
Over-the-year rate declines ranged from 1.7 to 3.3 percentage points with a significant median drop of over two and a half percentage points. The largest rate decreases since November 2010 occurred in the Flint and Muskegon-Norton Shores MSAs along with the Northeast Lower Michigan region.
In Southwest Michigan, unemployment rates for most local counties declined for a third consecutive month in November as hiring geared up in the retail sector to prepare for the holiday shopping season. Unemployment declined despite the fact that more people were active in the workforce in November than in October. Regional jobless rates fell in November by an average of five tenths of a percentage point.
In Branch County, the November jobless rate was 8.1 percent, down from 8.6 percent in October and considerably lower than the 10.7 percent rate recorded in November 2010.
In Cass County, the unemployment rate in November was 7.8 percent, down slightly from 7.9 percent in October and lower than the 10.2 percent figure in November 2010.
In St. Joseph County, the November jobless rate was 8.3 percent, down from 8.9 percent in October and much lower than November 2010 when the rate was 11.3 percent.
For detailed information regarding Southwest Michigan, click here.
Source: Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget
