June unemployment increased
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates moved upward in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in June. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, in a news release today, detailed total employment and labor force levels that rose in most regions in June.
Statewide, the June, 2012 unemployment rate was 9.2%. That is up from 8.6% in May of this year, but significantly lower that the rate of 11% in June, 2011. Upper Michigan had both the highest and lowest unemployment rates: Baraga County was the highest at 15.8%, Mackinac County was the lowest at 4.2%.
“Workforce and employment levels in most Michigan regions expanded in June as summer and seasonal hiring continued,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “With the influx of job seekers, unemployment rates increased moderately over the month. However, jobless rates remained well below 2011 levels throughout the state.”
70 of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded unemployment rate increases in June. Jobless rates fell over the month in 13 counties, mostly in northern tourism-oriented regions.
From June 2011 to June 2012, unemployment rates decreased in 82 Michigan counties, with a significant 1.5 percentage point average drop. The jobless rate in Cheboygan County rose slightly since June 2011, primarily due to layoffs in health care.
Dr. Dan Benishek, First District Congressman (R-Crystal Falls), responded to the release of Michigan unemployment numbers for June, saying, “I want all Michiganders who are seeking work to have jobs. Unfortunately, due to the anti-business policies being implemented by this administration, job creators simply can’t afford to make new hires. Throughout my ‘100 in 100’ small business tour, I have heard how the uncertain tax code, overregulation, and the new healthcare law are hurting job creation. Washington needs to get out of the way, allowing small businesses to succeed and until that occurs we’ll continue to see disappointing jobs reports. Today’s unacceptably high regional unemployment rate can be lowered with a simpler tax code, fewer regulations and a repeal and replacement of the new healthcare law. These are common sense solutions that will allow job providers to prosper, and as a result, create more employment opportunities.”
According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, the Upper Peninsula county-by-county seasonally unadjusted June jobless rates are as follows, with the county ranking/county name/unemployment rate:
1 Mackinac County 4.5
7 Menominee County 7.1
17 Dickinson County 7.9
24 Iron County 8.5
25 Marquette County 8.6
34 Delta County 8.9
44 Houghton County 9.5
51 Alger County 9.9
60 Keweenaw County 10.3
61 Luce County 10.4
62 Chippewa County 10.5
66 Schoolcraft County 10.7
73 Gogebic County 11.2
80 Ontonagon County 13.3
83 Baraga County 15.8