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November Unemployment Rates Increase Seasonally in Michigan's Regional Labor Markets

Contact:  Maura Campbell (517) 373-9280
Agency: Energy, Labor & Economic Growth


December 22, 2005November seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates rose in Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth.  Employment and labor force levels increased in most regions over the month.

"Throughout many regions in the state, labor market conditions were relatively typical for November," said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. "The state’s three northern labor market areas recorded the largest unemployment rate increases due to expected seasonal declines in tourism-related employment."

From October to November, regional jobless rates advanced by an average of 0.7 of a percentage point.  The Northeast Lower Michigan Region, the Upper Peninsula, and the Northwest Lower Michigan Region, recorded the largest jobless rate hikes over the month of 2.0, 1.5 and 1.4 percentage points respectively.  The state’s 14 other major labor market areas registered more moderate unemployment rate gains in November, ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 of a percentage point.

All Regions Report Jobless Rate Declines Since November 2004
From November 2004 to November 2005, the rate decreases in the 17 areas ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 percentage points with an average decline of a full percentage point.  The largest decreases over the year were recorded in the Northeast Lower Michigan Region, along with the Grand Rapids-Wyoming and Saginaw-Saginaw Township North Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).

Total Employment Up Over Month, Year
From October to November, total employment increased in 13 regions.  These areas posted a moderate 0.6 percent average gain.  The largest rates of employment gain over the month were reported in the Muskegon-Norton Shores, Ann Arbor and Battle Creek MSAs.

Over the month, four regions recorded total employment declines.  The Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSA reported a slight decrease, while the state’s three northernmost labor market regions posted significant, but typical employment drops with the ending of the summer tourism season.  Combined, these three northern areas accounted for a total employment decline of 6,700 over the month.

Since November 2004, total employment levels increased in all of the state’s major labor market areas.

Labor Force Levels Up Over Month, Year
In November, labor force levels increased in almost all regions; however, labor force levels were little changed in the state’s three northern labor markets over the month. 

Over the year, labor force levels increased in 12 regions and declined in five.

Payroll Jobs Up Slightly
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan edged upward in November by 4,000 to total 4,413,000.  Seasonal job gains were recorded in retail trade (+13,000), government (+6,000) and education and health services (+3,000).  The increase in retail trade employment was evident in all of the state’s major metropolitan areas as merchants hired additional workers for the holiday season.

Somewhat offsetting the payroll job increases over the month were seasonal declines in leisure and hospitality services (-10,000), construction (-5,000) and professional and business services (-3,000).  All other major industry sectors were little changed over the month. 

In November, most metropolitan areas in the state recorded only minor seasonal movement in payroll employment counts.

From November 2004 to November 2005, total payroll job levels were mixed in Michigan’s various metropolitan areas.  Gains were recorded in the Ann Arbor, Jackson, Lansing-East Lansing and Kalamazoo-Portage MSAs.  Payroll employment declined slightly over the year in the Muskegon-Norton Shores, Monroe, Grand Rapids-Wyoming, and Bay City MSAs.   The remaining six metropolitan areas in the state registered varying degrees of payroll job losses since November 2004.  These areas included the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Flint, Battle Creek, Holland Grand Haven, Niles-Benton Harbor and Saginaw-Saginaw Township North MSAs.

A drop in manufacturing employment was responsible for much of the statewide payroll job decreases since November 2004.  Most metropolitan areas recorded declines in manufacturing over the year.

Since November 2004, the majority of metropolitan areas in the state registered declines in retail trade jobs, while most areas reported slight gains in leisure and hospitality services and in education and health services.

County Jobless Rates Up Over Month, Down Over Year
All of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded seasonal unemployment rate increases in November.  The average advance over the month was 1.1 percentage points.  For the most part, the largest November jobless rate hikes were in counties located in the state’s northern areas.

From November 2004 to November 2005, unemployment rates declined in 81 of the state’s counties, with a significant average decrease of over a full percentage point.  Jobless rates increased slightly in two counties since November 2004.

Note:  Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted.  As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data.

A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted November workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for November.

Note to Editors:  Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads “Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.”

The Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) is investing in Michigan's future by helping to create the jobs of today and tomorrow, ensuring that our children and adults have the skills these jobs demand, making Michigan a better place to do business, and training and placing those who need jobs

 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

ANN ARBOR MSA

     

 month

 year

 (Washtenaw County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

191,700

194,000

197,500

1.8%

3.0%

Total Employment

183,600

187,600

190,000

1.3%

3.5%

Unemployment

8,100

6,400

7,500

17.2%

-7.4%

Rate (percent)

4.2

3.3

3.8

   
           

Contact: Mark Reffitt, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 492-5550

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

BATTLE CREEK MSA

     

 month

 year

(Calhoun County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

74,200

73,000

74,300

1.8%

0.1%

Total Employment

69,300

69,200

70,000

1.2%

1.0%

Unemployment

4,900

3,700

4,300

16.2%

-12.2%

Rate (percent)

6.6

5.1

5.8

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

BAY CITY MSA

     

 month

 year

(Bay County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

57,100

56,000

56,800

1.4%

-0.5%

Total Employment

53,000

53,200

53,500

0.6%

0.9%

Unemployment

4,100

2,800

3,400

21.4%

-17.1%

Rate (percent)

7.1

5.1

5.9

   
           

Contact: Jason Palmer, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (989) 776-1508

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

DETROIT-WARREN-LIVONIA MSA

     

month

 year

(Data in thousands)

         

 (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer,

         

Livingston, St. Clair counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

2,222

2,207

2,218

0.5%

-0.2%

Total Employment

2,061

2,075

2,068

-0.3%

0.3%

Unemployment

161

131

150

14.5%

-6.8%

Rate (percent)

7.3

6.0

6.8

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DLEG Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

FLINT MSA

     

 month

 year

(Genesee County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

217,100

213,800

217,900

1.9%

0.4%

Total Employment

200,300

200,900

203,000

1.0%

1.3%

Unemployment

16,800

12,800

14,800

15.6%

-11.9%

Rate (percent)

7.7

6.0

6.8

   
           

Contact: Jason Palmer, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (989) 776-1508

 
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

GRAND RAPIDS - WYOMING MSA

     

month

 year

(Barry, Ionia, Kent, Newaygo counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

403,500

405,200

408,400

0.8%

1.2%

Total Employment

376,900

386,200

386,900

0.2%

2.7%

Unemployment

26,600

19,000

21,400

12.6%

-19.5%

Rate (percent)

6.6

4.7

5.2

   
           

Contact: Brian Waters, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (616) 336-4883

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

HOLLAND - GRAND HAVEN MSA

     

month

 year

(Ottawa County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

135,000

132,800

134,300

1.1%

-0.5%

Total Employment

127,900

127,500

128,100

0.5%

0.2%

Unemployment

7,100

5,300

6,100

15.1%

-14.1%

Rate (percent)

5.3

4.0

4.6

   
           

Contact: Brian Waters, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (616) 336-4883

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

JACKSON MSA

     

 month

 year

(Jackson County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

79,900

80,100

81,400

1.6%

1.9%

Total Employment

74,200

75,900

76,700

1.1%

3.4%

Unemployment

5,600

4,200

4,800

14.3%

-14.3%

Rate (percent)

7.0

5.2

5.9

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

KALAMAZOO - PORTAGE MSA

     

 month

 year

(Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

174,900

175,200

177,500

1.3%

1.5%

Total Employment

164,600

167,700

168,900

0.7%

2.6%

Unemployment

10,300

7,500

8,600

14.7%

-16.5%

Rate (percent)

5.9

4.3

4.9

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

LANSING - EAST LANSING MSA

     

 month

 year

(Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

255,700

257,100

260,300

1.2%

1.8%

Total Employment

238,900

244,900

246,400

0.6%

3.1%

Unemployment

16,800

12,100

13,800

14.0%

-17.9%

Rate (percent)

6.6

4.7

5.3

   
           

Contact: Mark Reffitt, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 492-5550

   

 

     
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

MONROE MSA

     

 month

 year

(Monroe County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

77,900

78,300

78,900

0.8%

1.3%

Total Employment

73,300

74,600

74,800

0.3%

2.0%

Unemployment

4,500

3,700

4,100

10.8%

-8.9%

Rate (percent)

5.8

4.7

5.2

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DLEG Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

MUSKEGON - NORTON SHORES MSA

     

month

 year

(Muskegon County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

90,400

89,000

90,800

2.0%

0.4%

Total Employment

83,800

84,000

85,200

1.4%

1.7%

Unemployment

6,600

5,000

5,700

14.0%

-13.6%

Rate (percent)

7.3

5.6

6.2

   
           

Contact: Brian Waters, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (616) 336-4883

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

NILES - BENTON HARBOR MSA

     

 month

 year

(Berrien County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

79,400

78,000

78,700

0.9%

-0.9%

Total Employment

73,600

73,900

74,000

0.1%

0.5%

Unemployment

5,800

4,100

4,700

14.6%

-19.0%

Rate (percent)

7.3

5.3

6.0

   
           

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (517) 841-5634

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

SAGINAW-Saginaw Township North  MSA

     

 month

 year

 (Saginaw County)

         

Civilian Labor Force

102,000

99,600

100,800

1.2%

-1.2%

Total Employment

93,800

93,700

94,100

0.4%

0.3%

Unemployment

8,300

5,900

6,800

15.3%

-18.1%

Rate (percent)

8.1

5.9

6.7

   
           

Contact: Jason Palmer, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (989) 776-1508

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

UPPER PENINSULA LMA

     

 month

year

(15 counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

160,500

163,000

162,800

-0.1%

1.4%

Total Employment

149,000

155,700

153,100

-1.7%

2.8%

Unemployment

11,500

7,300

9,700

32.9%

-15.7%

Rate (percent)

7.2

4.5

6.0

   
           

Contact: Kathy Salow, DLEG Regional Economic Analyst (906) 226-3669

         
           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN

     

 month

 year

(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford,

         

Iosco, Montmorency,Ogemaw, Oscoda,

         

Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

99,200

101,000

101,200

0.2%

2.0%

Total Employment

90,400

95,500

93,800

-1.8%

3.8%

Unemployment

8,800

5,500

7,500

36.4%

-14.8%

Rate (percent)

8.9

5.4

7.4

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DLEG Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN

     

 month

 year

(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie,

         

Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau,

         

Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties)

         

Civilian Labor Force

157,700

160,300

160,100

-0.1%

1.5%

Total Employment

146,400

152,800

150,400

-1.6%

2.7%

Unemployment

11,400

7,500

9,700

29.3%

-14.9%

Rate (percent)

7.2

4.7

6.1

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DLEG Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095

           
 

Nov-04

Oct-05

Nov-05

% change

% change

MICHIGAN  (Data in thousands)

     

 month

 year

Civilian Labor Force

5,121

5,106

5,147

0.8%

0.5%

Total Employment

4,764

4,832

4,830

-0.0%

1.4%

Unemployment

358

273

317

16.1%

-11.5%

Rate (percent)

7.0

5.3

6.2

   
           

Contact: Jim Rhein, DLEG Economic Analyst (313) 456-3095


MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
NOVEMBER 2005

1

Washtenaw County

3.8

 

43

Hillsdale County

6.4

2

Isabella County

4.1

 

44

Ogemaw County

6.4

3

Menominee County

4.3

 

45

Newaygo County

6.5

4

Cass County

4.3

 

46

Sanilac County

6.5

5

Barry County

4.5

 

47

Shiawassee County

6.6

6

Leelanau County

4.6

 

48

Tuscola County

6.6

7

Kalamazoo County

4.6

 

49

Ionia County

6.6

8

Ottawa County

4.6

 

50

Otsego County

6.7

9

Grand Traverse County

4.7

 

51

Saginaw County

6.7

10

Clinton County

4.8

 

52

Roscommon County

6.7

11

Dickinson County

4.8

 

53

Ontonagon County

6.8

12

Marquette County

4.9

 

54

Benzie County

6.8

13

Livingston County

5.0

 

55

Genesee County

6.8

14

Eaton County

5.0

 

56

Luce County

6.8

15

Kent County

5.1

 

57

Lapeer County

6.8

16

Midland County

5.2

 

58

Charlevoix County

7.0

17

Monroe County

5.2

 

59

Chippewa County

7.0

18

Oakland County

5.3

 

60

Manistee County

7.1

19

Houghton County

5.3

 

61

St. Clair County

7.1

20

Iron County

5.6

 

62

Antrim County

7.2

21

Allegan County

5.6

 

63

Mason County

7.2

22

Ingham County

5.6

 

64

Alger County

7.2

23

St. Joseph County

5.7

 

65

Gratiot County

7.4

24

Delta County

5.8

 

66

Oceana County

7.6

25

Van Buren County

5.8

 

67

Emmet County

7.8

26

Calhoun County

5.8

 

68

Iosco County

7.9

27

Missaukee County

5.9

 

69

Montcalm County

8.1

28

Crawford County

5.9

 

70

Wayne County

8.1

29

Bay County

5.9

 

71

Arenac County

8.1

30

Jackson County

5.9

 

72

Presque Isle County

8.2

31

Huron County

6.0

 

73

Clare County

8.2

32

Alpena County

6.0

 

74

Gladwin County

8.3

33

Berrien County

6.0

 

75

Schoolcraft County

8.8

34

Osceola County

6.1

 

76

Cheboygan County

9.2

35

Muskegon County

6.2

 

77

Baraga County

9.3

36

Mecosta County

6.2

 

78

Alcona County

9.4

37

Lenawee County

6.2

 

79

Lake County

9.5

38

Wexford County

6.2

 

80

Montmorency County

9.5

39

Branch County

6.3

 

81

Oscoda County

9.6

40

Kalkaska County

6.3

 

82

Keweenaw County

11.9

41

Macomb County

6.3

 

83

Mackinac County

12.2

42

Gogebic County

6.4

   
 


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