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August 11, 2005Tourism brings jobs; rate still above averageByRecord-Eagle business editor The summer tourist season has pushed some area counties into the top 10 lowest unemployment rates for June in Michigan. Area counties are in bold print: 1. Mackinac County 3.8% 2. Leelanau 4.0% 3. Washtenaw 4.4% 4. Cheboygan 4.7% 5. Cass 4.7% 6. Isabella 4.8% 7. Grand Traverse 5.0% 8. Menominee 5.1% 9. Ottawa 5.2% 10. Dickinson 5.3% The jobless rate for the 10-county northwest Michigan area dropped to 5.8 percent in June. That's down from 6.9 percent in May and 6.9 percent in June of last year, according to the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The northeast lower Michigan region, which includes Crawford, Otsego and Cheboygan counties, had the largest drop in June jobless figures among the state's 17 major labor markets. The unemployment rate in that area fell to 6.8 percent, down from 7.9 percent in May and from 8.1 percent in June of last year. The statewide jobless rate was 6.9 percent in June, about the same rate as in May but still second-highest in the country. Fifteen of the 17 state labor markets reported lower unemployment rates. The Detroit area increased 0.5 percent to 7.7 percent because of auto industry layoffs, and the Lansing area was unchanged at 6.3 percent. The national unemployment rate in June was 5 percent. Jobs gains in professional and health services led to the reduction although there were fewer young people seeking summer jobs, said Richard Waclawek who heads the department's bureau of labor market information. Employment opportunities in education and health services continued an upward trend, picking up an estimated 6,000 jobs since May and up around 10,000 from one year ago. Other industry sectors showing growth over the past year are leisure and hospitality services and trade, transportation and utilities. Job losses over the past year have been recorded in the manufacturing, construction and business and professional services fields, state officials said.
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