|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
August 31, 2004Jobless rate improvesSome areas post job gainsByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - The region's jobless rate improved in July in the face of a statewide sag in employment numbers, according to the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The unemployment rate for the 10-county northwest Michigan area fell to 5.9 percent last month, down from June's 6.3 percent rate for the region. In July 2003, the area's unemployment rate hovered at more than 7 percent. The statewide unemployment rate grew to 7.5 percent last month, up from June's level of 6.8 percent. The highest increases were in the Detroit, Flint and Lansing areas, as nine of Michigan's 12 major labor markets experienced higher jobless rates in July. State labor officials said the auto industry and K-12 school job cuts were significant factors in the decline, which is typical for the summer months. Statewide, job numbers totaled some 4.75 million in July, down about 40,000 from the June figures. "Scheduled July temporary shutdowns in the auto industry due to retooling caused sizable short-term layoffs in many areas," said Bruce Weaver, acting director of the state's bureau of labor market information. Both western and eastern areas of northern Lower Michigan showed job gains last month, along with the Upper Peninsula. State officials said those three regions picked up around 7,500 jobs in July, which is typical for the peak of the summer tourist season. The July unemployment rate for northeast Lower Michigan was 7 percent - 5.4 percent in the Upper Peninsula. Total employment in July for the 10-county northwest Michigan area was estimated at 155,075, compared to 150,775 in June. Jobless rates also improved last month in the Grand Rapids and Saginaw-Bay City-Midland areas. The region had two of the lowest county unemployment rates among the 83 counties in Michigan, with Cheboygan at 2.8 percent for July and Leelanau at 3.1 percent. They trailed only Mackinac County, which had a 1.4 percent unemployment rate. Oscoda County led the state at 12.8 percent.
|
|
