LANSING, MI (MPRN)-- Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate jumped slightly to 8.7 percent as more people are competing for jobs. Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta explains.
There are actually about 9,000 more people working in Michigan – but there are also more people who told the government’s monthly employment survey that they are looking for work.
Michigan’s rate of unemployment and under-employment is 16.1 percent. That includes people who’ve stopped looking for work or part-timers who’d like to be full-time.
The state’s jobless rate from this point 12 months ago is down 0.6 of a percentage point. The job gains were led by manufacturing, health and education, and business services. However, in the manufacturing sector, hours worked and employee earnings are down from where they were a year ago.
For the Michigan Public Radio Network, I’m Rick Pluta in Lansing