Michigan's jobless rate declines slightly

Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was little changed, edging downward over the month by one-tenth of a percentage point to 10.3 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG). Total employment increased by 11,000 while unemployment declined by 7,000. The net result was a minor advance in the state's labor force in March.

Anonymous

Apr 13, 2011

Michigan’s unemployment rate was 1.5 percent above the U.S. March rate of 8.8 percent.

The Michigan jobless rate last month was three full percentage points below the March 2010 rate of 13.3 percent. The national jobless rate decreased by nine-tenths of a percentage point over this period.

“Michigan’s labor market indicators have shown steady improvement in the first three months of 2011,” said Rick Waclawek, director of DELEG’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “Compared to this time last year, the state’s jobless rate has fallen significantly while private sector payroll jobs have increased by 98,000 or 3.1 percent.”

The state’s workforce level has stabilized in the first three months of 2011 after declining throughout most of 2010.