Washtenaw County's unemployment rate slips to 6.2 percent
Washtenaw County's unemployment rate fell from 7.0 percent in March to 6.2 percent in April, according to statistics released Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
The number of jobs based in the county grew 1,800 from March to April and the number of employed county residents rose by 100.
The unemployment rate was down from 8.1 percent in April 2010.
The Ann Arbor region's professional and business services sector added 500 jobs over the last month. The trade, transportation and utilities sector also added 500 jobs, fueled in part by "higher than normal" gains among retailers.
At 6.2 percent, Washtenaw has the lowest unemployment rate among Michigan's 83 counties. Nearby Livingston (9.3 percent) is 18th, Oakland (9.7 percent) is 23rd and Wayne (12 percent) is 52nd.
Michigan's unemployment rate in April was 10.1 percent, down from 12.9 percent in April 2010.
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Comments
Terrin
Sat, May 28, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.
First, when somebody's unemployment runs out they are no longer counted as unemployed so that number is meaningless. Second, creating more low paying non-career related jobs is hardly anything to be excited about. Unless we all want to work at Target.
1bit
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
Lots of "glass is half empty" folks around here. Maybe we really do need some more sunshine around here. The economy is getting better. In spite of high fuel costs. Irrespective of tax reform for small businesses. That's why there was increased revenue in the State coffers. That's why the structural reforms in the budget were pressed. Because with increasing employment comes increasing revenue and the impetus for making changes would be gone. So things are getting better. It's part of the cycle. In lieu of the sun actually shining, I'll take it.
KJMClark
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
Talk about a cooked set of books. Increase in jobs: 100. I thought I'd misread that, but the DTMB news release says that's right. Decrease in unemployment: 1600. Decrease in labor force: 1600. So the only reason the unemployment rate fell that much is because 1600 unemployed people disappeared? That leaves two options. Either they legitimately moved out of the county, or Mr. Ed's right, and these numbers are pretty darned meaningless. Come on, if that's the way we're keeping track of unemployment, all we have to do is wait long enough for all of those people who lost their jobs to no longer receive unemployment, and we can pretend they never existed in the first place. Gov. Snyder can pretend that he "fixed" the economy - "See! The unemployment rate is back to normal!" All because the accountants are cooking the books and the press is looking the other way. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics definition: "Persons are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work." (<a href="http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm)</a> What definition is Michigan using?
Mr. Ed
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 2:04 p.m.
The only difference is all the unemployed ran out of unemployment benefits. The employed are no longer counted so the unemployed rate goes down as a result
John B.
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
That is true (about equally) everywhere, though, so the relative comparisons are still valid.
grye
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
Just think how much lower it will be with a more business friendly environment!
cette
Sat, May 28, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
@andys, that's pretty speculative thinking...Maybe because we have a highly educated and more diverse workforce is the reason..
andys
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 5 p.m.
Maybe the "more business friendly environment" is coming and businesses know that, so the hiring is beginning. The uncertainty is abating, that would be a good thing at the federal level as well.
Rob Pollard
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
Normally I'd assume that was sarcasm, but with you, I'm going to assume it's not. It's interesting the most liberal county in Michigan has the lowest unemployment - showing that building around education and technology might be a recipe for success. I don't know how much "business friendly" has to do with it.
skfina2
Fri, May 27, 2011 : 11:18 a.m.
And all this without any of that massive $1.8 billion business tax cut funded on the backs of the working poor, the elderly, and the public school system. Huh.