Unemployment Falls To 14.7%

Michigan’s jobless rate fell in November to 14.7 percent from its 15.1 percent level in October.  Total employment increased by 16,000 – the second consecutive month where total employment increased – while unemployment fell by 20,000, and the state’s labor force dropped by 4,000 from October.  The decline was more pronounced in the Detroit area where the jobless rate fell by .9 percentage point to 16.4 percent.  The hardest-hit sectors for the month were transportation and utilities with 7,000 jobs lost, manufacturing (5,000), government (4,000), leisure and hospitality services (2,000) and construction (2,000).  Professional and business services saw jobs grow by 8,000.