Michigan unemployment falls to 15.1 percent

Michigan officials released a glimmer of good news this afternoon with an unemployment rate that's edging down.

The statewide unemployment rate was 15.1 percent in October, according to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

That's down from 15.3 percent in September.

The 15.1 percent unemployment rate compares to a national rate of 10.2 percent, an increase from 9.8 percent in September.

The gain represents 16,000 jobs, according to the state.

“Michigan’s jobless rate remained near 15 percent, where it has been since June” said Rick Waclawek, director of DELEG’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, in a press release. “However, modest job gains were recorded in October in construction and health care.”

The jobless rate was 9.1 percent in October 2008.

Seasonal employment appears to be playing a role in the figure, according to the state, since a spike of 25,000 new jobs professional and business services is attributed to holiday hiring.

The state's average unemployment rate for the first 10 months of the year was 13.9 percent, compared to the annual rate in 2008 of 8.4 percent. The difference represents 284,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, average weekly earnings are trending up, from $897.76 in October 2008 to $936.09 this year.