LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has dropped 0.4 percentage points to 6.7 percent in the latest month, reaching its lowest level in more than eight years.
The state Department of Technology, Management & Budget said Wednesday that the jobless rate has declined in eight months this year and is the lowest since April 2006. It says the rate is down from November 2013's 8.5 percent and from last year's average level of 8.8 percent.
Michigan's unemployment rate still tops the national rate, which remained unchanged at 5.8 percent in November.
The state agency says the number of people working in Michigan last month rose by 13,000 to 4.416 million, while the civilian workforce fell by 3,000. It says the number of unemployed people fell 16,000 to 319,000.
The department says joblessness also fell 0.4 points in populous metropolitan Detroit to 7.9 percent in November. The region's civilian workforce is down by 25,000 for the 12 months to 2.007 million and employment is down 2,000 from a year earlier.
"It's exciting to see the continued improvement in our unemployment rate," Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement. "But it also should inspire us to reach even higher and go even further. There is more we can do. Our goal should be to building upon the rock-solid foundation we've established."