Michigan Unemployment down in September

The Upper Peninsula had the highest…and the lowest unemployment number for September.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment numbers were released today by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.  Total employment levels increased in the majority of regions over the month, while labor force levels declined in most areas.

Baraga County came in at 13.6%; Mackinac County at 3.6%.  (The entire 83 county list is posted below.)

“Typical labor market patterns were evident in September throughout Michigan’s local areas,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.  “However since September 2011, labor market trends have been favorable, as jobless rates fell markedly in all areas and employment gains were positive.”

From August to September, regional jobless rate reductions were primarily seasonal and ranged in the narrow band of 0.7 to 1.2 percentage points with a median drop of a full percentage point.  In September, eleven major regions in Michigan displayed jobless rates at or below the U.S. seasonally unadjusted rate of 7.6 percent.  Sixteen of the 17 areas recorded September rates below 10.0 percent, while six regions posted rates under 7.0 percent.

Note:

The table above contains seasonally unadjusted data for Michigan for 2012 and 2011, which should be used in comparison with data for Michigan regions or counties.

DTMB released earlier the seasonally adjusted September 2012 unemployment rate for Michigan (9.3 percent), which is best used for:

• Identifying recent Michigan workforce trends
• Conducting comparisons with unemployment rates for the U.S. and other states