Washtenaw County's unemployment rate hits 10 percent, its highest point in 13 months
Washtenaw County's unemployment rate rose to 10.0 percent in July, reflecting the worst employment picture in the Ann Arbor region in 13 months.
The jobless rate rose from 9.3 percent in June to 10 percent in July, according to statistics released today by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
It marks the highest unemployment rate for the county since it stood at 10 percent in June 2009, according to a state database.
"Cutbacks in local government education fueled many of these changes," DELEG reported.
Mark Reffitt, a regional economic analyst for DELEG, cautioned that the unemployment statistics are seasonally unadjusted and said concern is premature.
"If we continue to see some kind of trend like that for the next few months or something, then I would say it’s signaling something that’s real," Reffitt said.
An economic outlook study conducted by the University of Michigan in March projected that Washtenaw County's unemployment rate would average 9.5 percent in 2010.
Washtenaw County's unemployment rate is the fifth best among Michigan's 83 counties. Mackinac (6.0), Cheboygan (9.1), Leelanau (9.7) and Clinton (9.9) are better. Wayne County's rate is 16.5 percent, and Oakland County's rate is 13.5 percent. Unemployment worsened in 79 counties.
Washtenaw's labor force dipped by 200 workers from June to July to
182,600, and the number of Washtenaw County residents with a job
dropped by 1,400 to 164,300.
The local government sector, which includes financially strapped public school districts, lost 2,300 jobs as schools "continued summer staff reductions for the end of the school year," DELEG said.
The professional and business services sector lost 700 jobs from June to July, but that sector gained 1,500 from July 2009 to July 2010.
Washtenaw County has 400 fewer jobs than it did at this point a year ago.
Employment in the manufacturing sector displayed surprising resiliency in July. Manufacturers lost just 200 jobs from June to July.
"But (manufacturing) typically drops by 10 times that amount in July due to plant retooling in area auto manufacturing facilities," DELEG said. "Retooling shutdowns did not take place this year."
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
CynicA2
Sat, Aug 28, 2010 : 1:55 p.m.
The point is that economic stats are constantly being revised - for example preliminary GDP for the 1st Q 2010 was recently revised downward from around 2.5% to 1.6%. So it should not be surprising to see employment stats revised, also - the census bureau does the same thing with population stats. Periodically, they change the way the numbers are calculated, as well. Frequently the preliminary estimates are too rosy. Couldn't be any political expediency involved there, now could there?!
CynicA2
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 10:25 p.m.
@Stephen Lange Ranzini... Well, there are lies, damn lies, statistics, and GOVERNMENT statistics - all of which are guesstimates of some "real" number. Personally, I think we may be in the early stages of a bona fide economic depression, but we probably won't realize it for awhile because it takes time to develop historical perspective and to overcome all the denial. Even if we're not in a depression, I think it could be a generation or more before we see economic growth of more than a couple percent per year in this state, and maybe nationally, too.
WLD1
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
The biggest problem is Greed. We all want to shop at Wal-mart and buy things made and priced by people making $5 per day. But we want to make $30 per hour. Unless we settle for lower wages, we will have high unemployment. I hear plenty of people saying if minimum wage was still $5.25 per hour they would start a small business. With minimum wage over $7 per hour. They are not going to take a chance.
WLD1
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:47 a.m.
Unless we settle for lower wages, will we have low unemployment. should read. Unless we settle for lower wages, we will have high unemployment.
WLD1
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:42 a.m.
The biggest problem is Greed. We all want to shop at Wal-mart and buy things made and priced by people making $5 per day. But we want to make $30 per hour. Unless we settle for lower wages, will we have low unemployment. I hear plenty of people saying if minimum wage was still $5.25 per hour they would start a small business. With minimum wage over $7 per hour. They are not going to take a chance.
JSA
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 8:31 a.m.
At least we can throw this bunch of financial incompetents out of office in November and elect a new bunch of financial incompetents.A pox on both parties.
stunhsif
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
Yep, this is all George Bush and Dick Cheney's fault. While all this is going on the EMU Prof's union is demanding a 12.75% raise over the next three years though. I think we all need to join unions, that will bring us pay raises and job security!
bunnyabbot
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 11:02 p.m.
just in time for the 4th qrt :(
Soothslayer
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 8:44 p.m.
Double dip recession. Its coming.
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 8:18 p.m.
leftovers from the engler administration... how would it be different under devos? i don't know. but it couldn't have been any worse than it has been this last term. the common phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" well, it was broke, so something needed to be fixed...something.
Duane Collicott
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.
George Bush's fault.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 6:53 p.m.
@CynicA2 wrote: "... And don't forget, these numbers completely understate the true numbers by at least 50%, and would be even higher if so many people weren't packing-up and leaving the state because they can't find work here." Interestingly enough, nine months ago when I got the numbers from the BLS website for another purpose the number of people employed in Michigan was substantially higher according to BLS in 2000 through 2009. Here are the original numbers (the first number) and the current ones (the second number listed) on the website: Michgan Employment Jun 20004,966,314 4,690,300 Michgan Employment Feb 20054,734,441 4,404,700 Michgan Employment Nov 2007 4,630,537 4,246,700 Michgan Employment Dec 2008 4,388,469 4,048,700 Michgan Employment Sep 20094,131,522 3,829,500 I wonder where those 276,014 jobs *went*? If you take the original number and the current number the decrease is almost 1,037,000 jobs lost. That's one heck of a "*statistical correction*!"
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 6:15 p.m.
Ah, yes, the natural result of blaming businesses for problems the government created. Why aren't we a right-to-work state?
Heardoc
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:49 p.m.
So how is the hope and change thing working out for everybody?
WLD1
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:21 p.m.
Nathan, Employers, do not submit a list of applicants to the government. People that sign up for the talent bank, some are still employed but looking for a better jobs. It is only unemployment applications that give them the figures.
WLD1
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:17 p.m.
The biggest mistake Granholm did was raise minimum wage, the higher the wages the less jobs available. 6 businesses I know ended up closing their doors because increased payroll made a struggling business fail.
Nathan Bomey
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:16 p.m.
@WLD1, People who can no longer claim unemployment benefits are still counted in the unemployment rate. However, people who have given up looking for a job are not included. You must be actively looking for a job to be considered unemployed by the government.
WLD1
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
It is actually much higher then that, I know lots of people that have been out of work for over 10 months and can no long file for unemployment. so they are not counted.
Jake C
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 4:08 p.m.
And do any of you think the economic climate would have actually been better under DeVos? Specifically in Washtenaw County, currently with the 5th best employment percentage in the state?
CynicA2
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.
... And don't forget, these numbers completely understate the true numbers by at least 50%, and would be even higher if so many people weren't packing-up and leaving the state because they can't find work here. The hollowing-out of Michigan continues unabated, and will for years to come. Changing the governor won't change much, but it probably couldn't hurt either... now that Granholm has been "blown away" by the economy.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:55 p.m.
Statewide employment in Michigan according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics peaked in September 2000 at 4,690,300 and have found a temporary bottom in September 2009 at 3,829,500, down 814,300 (minus 17.4%). Since September 2009 statewide jobs have risen 46,500 to 3,876,000. These are seasonally adjusted numbers. The lack of a normal auto product year layoff cycle may have boosted the seasonally adjusted job numbers. This data is from http://data.bls.gov Unfortunately the national economy appears to have resumed the downward depressionary slide (recent economic news has been awful), so this temporary bottom may not hold in future months, though if wishing would make it so, I wish it would since we need all the jobs we've still got and another 800,000 new ones.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball
Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 3:54 p.m.
Ahh the feeling of being 'blown away'. Thanks Jen.