Unemployment rates fell in April in all Southwest Michigan labor markets by a full percentage point on average. In April, seasonal job gains were recorded in leisure and hospitality (including hotels, restaurants and recreational activities), professional and business services, retail trade, and construction. In Branch County, the April unemployment rate was 7.6 percent, down from [...]

Jobless rates in Southwest Michigan continued to decline in March with job additions in seasonal sectors. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, hiring activities were recorded in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and construction in March throughout Southwest Michigan. Unemployment rates inched down in March by an [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March decreased over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 8.5 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment increased by 21,000 in March, while the number of unemployed declined by 12,000. The state’s workforce [...]

Unemployment rates declined moderately in February in all Southwest Michigan metro areas as support staff in the education sector (private and public) continued to be recalled to work following seasonal layoffs. The civilian labor force (the number of employed workers plus those looking for jobs) rose in nine of twelve regional labor markets. In Branch [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February continued its downward trend, declining over the month by two-tenths of a percentage point to 8.8 percent, according to data released Wednesday (March 28) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment rose by 22,000 in February as the number of unemployed [...]

Jobless rates rose in January for all Southwest Michigan counties, with the exception of Cass County. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, continued seasonal job losses were recorded in construction, leisure and hospitality, and business services. Retail trade lost jobs seasonally due to layoffs after the holiday shopping season, and employment [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January declined over the month by three-tenths of a percentage point to 9.0 percent, according to data released Wednesday (March 7th) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment advanced by 16,000 in January as the number of unemployed decreased by 14,000. The [...]

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates rose seasonally in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in December, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels declined in nearly all regions in December. From November to December, seasonal unemployment rate hikes ranged from 0.2 of a [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December declined by half a percentage point to 9.3 percent, according to data released Wednesday (January 18th) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment increased by 13,000 over the month and the number of unemployed fell by 25,000. The state’s workforce declined [...]

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 [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November fell by eight-tenths of a percentage point to 9.8 percent, according to data released Wednesday (December 14th) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment rose by 21,000 over the month as the number of unemployed dropped by 39,000. The net result [...]

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates declined in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in October, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment rose in most areas over the month, while labor force levels fell in the majority of regions in October. From September to October, unemployment rate [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October fell by five-tenths of a percentage point to 10.6 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). The number of unemployed in the state decreased by 24,000 over the month, while total employment increased moderately by 8,000. Michigan’s [...]

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates declined in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in September, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels decreased in the majority of regions over the month. From August to September, the jobless rate reductions in the 17 regions [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was little changed over the month, edging downward by one-tenth of a percentage point to 11.1 percent, according to data released Wednesday (October 19th) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). The state’s other labor force indicators also showed only small changes in [...]

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates declined in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in August, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels declined in the majority of regions over the month. “Area jobless rates were down in August primarily due to seasonal reductions [...]

The August 2011 Labor Market Analysis for Southwest Michigan shows that employment levels fell in most counties the during month, while the number of unemployed individuals was also down. The end result was a reduction in unemployment rates in all regional counties, as the number of persons active in the job market contracted. Some support [...]

Lansing – Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in August by three-tenths of a percentage point to 11.2 percent, according to data released Wednesday (September 14) by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB). Total employment fell by 21,000 in August while the number of unemployed rose by 15,000. The state’s labor force [...]

The Labor Day holiday is an appropriate time to focus on jobs, work and the economy.  This year, these topics seem especially daunting in view of the latest reports that show the U.S. economy essentially stuck in neutral.  At the same time, there doesn’t seem to be any definitive answer – or answers – to [...]

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates rose in 14 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in July, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Total employment and labor force levels declined in the majority of regions over the month. “The seasonal jobless rate increases within Michigan’s local areas were less than [...]