Michigan unemployment falls slightly to 14.6 percent in December

Officials attributed the slight drop to fewer people in the job market seeking employment during December.

However, officials also note that the statewide labor force declined by 31,000 during December.

The national unemployment rate for December was 10 percent, a rate unchanged from November.

The most recent data for the Ann Arbor area is from November, when the rate was 8.8 percent.

Preliminary year-end unemployment data shows an annual unemployment rate of 14.0 percent in Michigan. That rate is the third-highest since 1976, behind 15.6 percent in 1982 and 14.6 percent in 1983.

Meanwhile, Michigan official said today:

• Michigan unemployment rose 41.3 percent - or by 205,000 jobs - from December 2008 to December 2009.

• Michigan's labor force total of 4,813,000 in December was the lowest level reported in 2009 - and it represents 72,000 fewer people employed since December 2008.

• Total employment in Michigan fell by 7.8 percent - or 351,000 jobs - from 2008 to 2009, while unemployment rose 64.5 percent.

In the Metro Detroit area in December, the unemployment rate dropped to 15.8 percent.