Ottawa County jobless rate ticks up in November

Wed, Jan 6, 2010    to del.icio.us

The jobless rate inched up in Ottawa County in November 2009, the state reported on Tuesday.

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates increased in 14 of Michigan's 17 major labor markets in November, according to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

"Although employment rose in November as merchants hired workers for the holiday season, not all seasonal jobseekers found employment," said Rick Waclawek, director of the state's Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. "Job losses also occurred in other industry sectors, contributing to an increase in joblessness in most major labor market areas."

Ottawa County's jobless rate ticked up from 12.6 percent in October to 12.7 percent in November. It was 7.8 percent in November 2008.

The county's total employment also increased, from 113,000 in October to 113,600 in November.

The Muskegon County jobless rate remained steady from October to November at 15.7 percent. It was 10 percent in November 2008.

The four-county Grand Rapids metropolitan statistical area rose from 11.4 percent in October to 11.7 percent in November. It was 7.8 percent in November 2008.

For the entire state, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped from 14.3 percent in October to 14.1 percent in November. It was 9.3 percent in November 2008.

The state's biggest labor market, the six-county Detroit area, fell even further — from 16.7 percent unemployment in October to 15.4 percent in November — as jobseekers withdrew from the labor market, Waclawek said. Total employment there remained steady at around 1.75 million.

Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate led the nation at 14.7 percent in November.

A bright spot, according to the state labor agency, was that professional and business services statewide increased employment for the third consecutive month by adding 4,000 jobs in November. Temporary help agencies alone added 2,300 jobs in November.

On the Net:

www.michigan.gov/deleg