Michigan's June Jobless Rates Increase in All Areas
21 July 1999
Michigan's June Jobless Rates Increase in All Areas, Reports Michigan Department of Career Development
LANSING, Mich., July 21 -- June seasonally unadjusted
unemployment rates increased in all 10 of the state's major labor market
areas, Dr. Barbara Bolin, director of the Michigan Department of Career
Development, announced today. Employment levels increased in seven areas, and
labor force levels increased in eight areas.
"June's employment and unemployment statistics displayed typical seasonal
Michigan labor market patterns," Dr. Bolin said. "This is the time of year
when many 16-to-19-year-olds enter the labor market looking for summer jobs.
While many of these young people did find work in June, some were still
looking for jobs at the end of June. Overall, Michigan's economy remains
strong."
The Flint metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and the Grand Rapids-
Muskegon-Holland MSA recorded the largest unemployment rate increases in June,
each climbing by seven-tenths of a percentage point to 6.0 percent and 3.6
percent, respectively. The jobless rate rise in Flint was primarily due to
employment cutbacks in the auto industry, whereas the increased unemployment
rate in the Grand Rapids area was due to seasonal entry of workers into the
local labor market.
Several labor market areas recorded June jobless rate increases of one-
half of a percentage point. They included the Benton Harbor MSA, Detroit MSA,
Jackson MSA, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek MSA, and Saginaw-Bay-Midland MSA. The
Lansing MSA registered a four-tenths of a percentage point increase in its
June unemployment rate, and the Ann Arbor MSA saw its June jobless rate grow
by two-tenths of a percentage point. The Upper Peninsula (UP) labor market
area experienced the smallest June unemployment rate increase, going up by
only one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.9 percent.
The Flint MSA had the highest June unemployment rate at 6.0 percent, and
the Ann Arbor MSA had the lowest at 2.2 percent.
Annual Jobless Rate Change Mixed
Unemployment rate trends differed over the year among the state's major
labor market areas. Five areas registered jobless rate decreases since June
1998. The Flint MSA recorded the largest rate reduction, down 1.4 percent.
Four areas experienced increased jobless rates over the year. The
Saginaw-Bay-Midland MSA recorded the largest increase, up one-half of a
percentage point. The Lansing MSA's June 1999 unemployment rate of 2.8
percent was the same as its June 1998 rate.
Labor Force Growth Registered
Labor force levels increased in eight of Michigan's major labor market
areas in June as students and seasonal workers entered the workforce.
Conversely, the Ann Arbor and Lansing MSAs recorded decreased labor force
levels as college students returned home for summer break.
Six areas recorded an increase in their labor force levels compared to
June 1998. The Flint MSA, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek MSA, and the Lansing MSA
registered declines from their year-ago levels.
Employment Up
Seven of Michigan's major labor market areas recorded increased employment
levels in June. Only the Ann Arbor MSA, Benton Harbor MSA, and the Lansing
MSA experienced declines in their June employment estimates. From June 1998
to June 1999, six areas had gains in their employment levels, while four areas
recorded decreases.
Slight Gain In Payroll Employment
According to the monthly survey of employers, the number of seasonally
unadjusted payroll jobs increased by 5,000 in June to total 4,602,000.
Private sector job growth of 27,000, or 0.7 percent, was offset by a 23,000
decline in government employment. The only industry with a significant
percentage gain in jobs was construction, increasing by 4.1 percent, or 8,000
jobs. Construction employment increased in each major labor market area in
June. Slight seasonal job gains also occurred in retail trade (+7,000), and
services (+6,000). Government jobs fell in June due to cutbacks in local and
state education with the onset of summer break at area schools and
universities.
Manufacturing jobs declined in the Flint MSA for the third consecutive
month, due to a plant closing in the auto industry. The Upper Peninsula
recorded the fastest rate of payroll job gain in June as tourism activity
produced jobs in restaurants, hotels, and amusement and recreational services.
Most County Rates Increase
Sixty-two of Michigan's 83 counties reported unemployment rate increases
in June. Seventeen counties registered jobless rate declines, while four
counties registered no change. Most of the counties that experienced jobless
rate decreases were located in the UP or northern lower Michigan. These
decreases were due mainly to increased hiring resulting from tourism activity.
Ontonagon County had the state's highest June unemployment rate at 10.1
percent, and Livingston County had the lowest at 1.9 percent.
A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted June workforce estimates for Michigan
and its 10 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county
jobless rates.
Jun. May. Jun.
1999 1999 1998
ANN ARBOR MSA
(Washtenaw, Lenawee
and Livingston Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 298,700 299,400 296,000
Total Employment 292,100 293,400 289,800
Unemployment 6,700 6,100 6,300
Rate 2.2 2.0 2.1
Contact: George Mechem, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-241-7286.
BENTON HARBOR MSA
(Berrien County)
Civilian Labor Force 83,600 83,200 83,600
Total Employment 79,900 80,000 79,300
Unemployment 3,700 3,200 4,200
Rate 4.4 3.9 5.1
Contact: Joe Billig, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-782-9755.
DETROIT MSA
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb,
Monroe, Lapeer and
St. Clair Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 2,299,000 2,271,000 2,289,000
Total Employment 2,213,000 2,197,000 2,201,000
Unemployment 86,000 74,000 88,000
Rate 3.7 3.2 3.8
Contact: Bruce Weaver - MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 313-876-5978.
FLINT MSA
(Genesee County)
Civilian Labor Force 201,400 198,600 206,900
Total Employment 189,300 188,000 191,600
Unemployment 12,100 10,600 15,400
Rate 6.0 5.3 7.4
Contact: Sandy St. Cyr, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-776-1508.
GRAND RAPIDS - MUSKEGON - HOLLAND MSA
(Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon
and Allegan Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 623,600 609,800 603,500
Total Employment 601,000 592,100 584,000
Unemployment 22,600 17,700 19,500
Rate 3.6 2.9 3.2
Contact: Leonidas Murembya, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 616-760-1129.
JACKSON MSA
(Jackson County)
Civilian Labor Force 78,300 77,400 77,800
Total Employment 75,400 75,000 74,800
Unemployment 2,900 2,400 3,000
Rate 3.7 3.2 3.8
Contact: Joe Billig, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-782-9755.
KALAMAZOO - BATTLE CREEK MSA
(Kalamazoo, Calhoun and
Van Buren counties)
Civilian Labor Force 232,500 230,400 233,200
Total Employment 223,600 222,800 224,800
Unemployment 8,900 7,600 8,400
Rate 3.8 3.3 3.6
Contact: Joe Billig, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-782-9755.
LANSING MSA
(Clinton, Eaton, and
Ingham Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 239,700 242,200 240,500
Total Employment 233,000 236,500 233,800
Unemployment 6,800 5,700 6,700
Rate 2.8 2.4 2.8
Contact: George Mechem, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-241-7286.
SAGINAW - BAY - MIDLAND MSA
(Saginaw, Bay, and
Midland Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 203,200 200,900 202,300
Total Employment 194,100 193,000 194,200
Unemployment 9,100 7,900 8,200
Rate 4.5 4.0 4.0
Contact: Sandy St. Cyr, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 517-776-1508.
UPPER PENINSULA LMA
(15 Counties)
Civilian Labor Force 159,700 156,800 158,600
Total Employment 150,200 147,600 148,900
Unemployment 9,500 9,200 9,700
Rate 5.9 5.8 6.1
Contact: Kathy Salow, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 906-226-3669.
MICHIGAN
Civilian Labor Force 5,148,000 5,080,000 5,102,000
Total Employment 4,943,000 4,903,000 4,898,000
Unemployment 204,000 176,000 204,000
Rate 4.0 3.5 4.0
Contact: Bruce Weaver - MDCD/ESA Area Analyst, 313-876-5978.
MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE-JUNE 1999
1 ONTONAGON COUNTY 10.1
2 MONTMORENCY COUNTY 9.7
3 BARAGA COUNTY 9.5
4 PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY 8.9
5 LUCE COUNTY 8.6
6 OSCODA COUNTY 8.5
7 GOGEBIC COUNTY 8.4
8 SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY 8.4
9 LAKE COUNTY 7.9
10 IOSCO COUNTY 7.7
11 WEXFORD COUNTY 7.5
12 ALCONA COUNTY 7.4
13 CLARE COUNTY 7.4
14 CHIPPEWA COUNTY 7.1
15 GLADWIN COUNTY 7.0
16 ROSCOMMON COUNTY 7.0
17 NEWAYGO COUNTY 6.8
18 DELTA COUNTY 6.6
19 IRON COUNTY 6.6
20 OGEMAW COUNTY 6.4
21 ARENAC COUNTY 6.3
22 ALPENA COUNTY 6.3
23 KALKASKA COUNTY 6.2
24 MONTCALM COUNTY 6.2
25 SANILAC COUNTY 6.2
26 ALGER COUNTY 6.2
27 CRAWFORD COUNTY 6.1
28 EMMET COUNTY 6.0
29 OCEANA COUNTY 6.0
30 GENESEE COUNTY 6.0
31 ANTRIM COUNTY 5.8
32 MISSAUKEE COUNTY 5.8
33 OSCEOLA COUNTY 5.7
34 MANISTEE COUNTY 5.7
35 TUSCOLA COUNTY 5.5
36 DICKINSON COUNTY 5.5
37 MUSKEGON COUNTY 5.3
38 MASON COUNTY 5.3
39 BAY COUNTY 5.2
40 MENOMINEE COUNTY 5.1
41 KEWEENAW COUNTY 5.0
42 MARQUETTE COUNTY 4.9
43 GRATIOT COUNTY 4.8
44 IONIA COUNTY 4.8
45 SAGINAW COUNTY 4.8
46 OTSEGO COUNTY 4.8
47 HOUGHTON COUNTY 4.7
48 CHARLEVOIX COUNTY 4.6
49 HURON COUNTY 4.6
50 WAYNE COUNTY 4.5
51 SHIAWASSEE COUNTY 4.4
52 BERRIEN COUNTY 4.4
53 ST. CLAIR COUNTY 4.3
54 MECOSTA COUNTY 4.2
55 CALHOUN COUNTY 4.2
56 VAN BUREN COUNTY 4.0
57 BENZIE COUNTY 4.0
58 GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY 3.9
59 HILLSDALE COUNTY 3.8
60 LENAWEE COUNTY 3.7
61 JACKSON COUNTY 3.7
62 BRANCH COUNTY 3.6
63 KENT COUNTY 3.6
64 KALAMAZOO COUNTY 3.6
65 LAPEER COUNTY 3.6
66 MACOMB COUNTY 3.5
67 MONROE COUNTY 3.4
68 CHEBOYGAN COUNTY 3.3
69 ALLEGAN COUNTY 3.2
70 ST JOSEPH COUNTY 3.2
71 CASS COUNTY 3.1
72 BARRY COUNTY 3.1
73 INGHAM COUNTY 3.0
74 MIDLAND COUNTY 2.9
75 ISABELLA COUNTY 2.9
76 OTTAWA COUNTY 2.8
77 OAKLAND COUNTY 2.7
78 EATON COUNTY 2.6
79 LEELANAU COUNTY 2.5
80 MACKINAC COUNTY 2.5
81 CLINTON COUNTY 2.2
82 WASHTENAW COUNTY 2.0
83 LIVINGSTON COUNTY 1.9