Sorry bad link...have to copy it
Date: 12/20/2010
Michigan's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate fell four-tenths of a percentage point in November, bringing the state's jobless rate down to 12.4 percent. According to some experts, such decreases are mostly due to the state's residents either leaving the state to find a job or stopping their job search.
Michigan's unemployment rate has been slowly and steadily falling for three months - it was lower in November 2010 than the 14.4 percent level witnessed in November of last year, according to the Associated Press.
Though such decreases in unemployment may appear to be an improvement, this may not be the case in Michigan's labor market.
The employment rate has reportedly held steady since August, and Michigan experienced several months of labor force reductions since May of this year.
"Michigan's jobless rate fell in November without a significant increase in employment levels. Instead, the jobless rate drop was primarily due to fewer state residents in the labor force seeking jobs," said Rick Waclawek, director of the department's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.
While unemployment in the state decreased by 22,000, the number of workers reporting that they had jobs increased by only 2,000, according to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth. This may indicate that a large portion of the decrease in unemployment is driven by people dropping out of the labor force, according to Detroit News.
While certain economists have claimed that Michigan's economy is recovering based on evidence of increased auto sales and a resurgence of consumer confidence, the recovery is still slow, according to the news source. The number of payroll jobs reported in Michigan decreased by a full 19,000 in the past 12 months. Industries like finance, leisure, information and construction all experienced job losses during the year. Manufacturing, health, education and professional services sectors experienced job creation, the Detroit Free Press reports.
People are plum giving up in this state, they just stop looking and jump on the government programs, and wouldn't you know it...they report it as a wee bit decline in unemployement...when in fact, more people just ain't workin at all. A lot of them have left the state here...enough to give us less seats for representation, but that ain't all bad, cause who would want a state who spent themselves broke and taxed out the jobs with a lot of representation anyway? Be best if we had zero seats I think?