Michigan unemployment rate drops, but number of job seekers slips, too
Michigan's unemployment rate fell to 11.7 percent in December, but the number of job seekers dropped sharply, according to statistics released today by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
December's unemployment rate, which calculates the percentage of people who are looking for a job but can't find work, was down from 12.4 percent in November.
The improvement in the jobless rate was largely attributable to a 37,000-person drop in the labor force, a figure that measures the number of employed workers and unemployed people who are actively seeking a job. The state added about 5,000 jobs from November to December.
“The drop in the state’s December jobless rate primarily reflected a reduction in the number of unemployed individuals seeking jobs. Employment levels in Michigan have been flat since the summer,” said Rick Waclawek, director of DELEG’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, in a statement. “Overall in 2010, Michigan’s labor market stabilized after one of the worst labor market years on record in 2009.”
For the year, Michigan's unemployment rate averaged 13.1 percent, down from 13.6 percent in 2009. That stopped a streak of four straight years of increases.
The new unemployment statistics set the stage for Gov. Rick Snyder's first State of the State address tonight in Lansing, where the first-time politician is expected to offer details of his plans to revitalize Michigan's economy. (Check AnnArbor.com tonight for coverage.)
The U.S. unemployment rate averaged 9.6 percent in 2010, up from an average of 9.3 percent in 2009, the state said.
“The numbers indicate we’re moving in the right direction ..., but it’s not good enough until all Michiganders are back to work,” Snyder said in a statement. “Economic development, diversification, and improving our business climate are key to boosting our labor force and increasing employment in all sectors of our economy.”
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
kozykat
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
Why look for a job when the states keeps handing you money to do nothing. How many weeks are we up to now for unemployment? is it 99?
breadman
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
Go to China...... You can get a good paying there and also wealth care. USA a rich Country but the people suffer from health care... China you can paint Thomas The Train for 2.45 hour and get good health care.. Thats where the jobs went....
Soothslayer
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
Yeah it's all rainbows and kittens in Michigan. Reasons for the drop: people have left, people have given up & people have used up all their benefits. Wall Street may try to make 2010 & 11 look good on paper to get you to put whatever you have left back into the market but don't fall for it. People aren't working and those jobs aren't coming back (the reason the jobs were here is gone).
Lucielle Cash
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
And, people leaving the state.
Lucielle Cash
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11 p.m.
Nice try. It's because many people are losing their benefits, not that there are more jobs opening up.
David Cahill
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
AnnArbor.com, how does Michigan's December unemployment rate compare with that of other high-unemployment states in December?