Posted on Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.
Michigan's January jobless rate dips to 14.3 percent
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Michigan's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 14.3 percent in January.
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate reported Tuesday is down from a revised rate of 14.5 percent in December. The state says the unemployment rate hasn't changed much since the middle of 2009 based on recent revisions to jobless statistics.
Michigan added an estimated 6,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in January. Manufacturing jobs increased while education and health service jobs declined.
Michigan's jobless rate was 11.3 percent a year ago, according to revised figures.
Michigan has had the nation's highest jobless rate for four consecutive years.
The national unemployment rate was 9.7 percent in both January and February. Michigan's February rate is due out later this month.
Comments
uawisok
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 12:32 p.m.
The damage done by NAFTA is currently why this manufacturing state is part of a "jobless recovery", which is an oxymoron..IMO...Both political parties thru the middle class under the bus by pursuing and signing onto NAFTA! I don't want a piece of the pie I want a whole new pie!!!
jondhall
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.
It will improve when the voters improve their choices, no sooner no later. Michigan has Two US Senators and neither one of them has done a thing for this State be need a Senator like Barbara Boxer, from California she does what it takes to get the bucks. or one like Nebraska that get bribes in the open, most of all we need Granholm, gone and she will be.
ElaineK
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
Don't know when this will start to improve. Deeply worried for several friends.
Rhe Buttle
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 : 9:08 a.m.
@CynicA2 - you are correct, if you are no longer looking for a job or if your unemployment benefits run out, you are no longer considered unemployed. Always remember - "figures lie and liars figure" - the statistic is in the interpretation. So you can expect the Michigan unemployment rate to go down now, as folks are now approaching 1, 2, and even 3 years without a job.
L. C. Burgundy
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 11 p.m.
Yep, tdw, she blew several job-seeking friends away, that I do know.
tdw
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 7:38 p.m.
Does this mean we are starting to get "Blown away"?
voiceofreason
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 7:12 p.m.
At this point, there is no incentive for Michigan to pull itself out of the recession. We will continue to receive "Obama Bucks" until J. Gran is no longer in office. Once we elect a Republican and the federal spicket closes tight, a sustainable recovery will finally begin to occur.
CynicA2
Tue, Mar 9, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.
If you leave the state to look for work or take a new job, you are no longer "unemployed" here... right?! If you "give-up" looking for one reason or another, likewise. Something like that happening here, 'cause there ain't many new jobs sprouting up for spring.