By the Numbers
Monday, December 12, 2005 - MiBiz Network

Michigan Employment Report
Reported by Michigan Department of Career Development

LANSING — October seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates decreased in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Employment increased in most regions over the month, while labor force levels were mixed.

"Since October 2004, total employment levels increased in 16 of the state’s major labor market areas. Gains were wide-ranging, while substantial in some areas, with all the regions registering increases of 0.4 percent or greater,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Overall, employment growth and unemployment rate declines were fairly typical for October due to seasonal job gains, primarily with local schools filling their ranks with support staff."

From September to October, regional jobless rates declined by an average of 0.7 of a percentage point. Labor market improvements over the past year also occurred in many regions, with job gains concentrated in the service-providing sector. The largest unemployment rate decreases took place in the Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, Flint, Niles-Benton Harbor and Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). In October, all of the state’s major labor market areas displayed jobless rates of 6 percent or less.

All regions report jobless rate declines since October 2004 From October 2004 to October 2005, the rate decreases in the 17 areas ranged from 0.5-1.5 percentage points with an average decline of a full percentage point. The most pronounced drops were registered in the Saginaw-Saginaw Township North and Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSAs.

Total employment up over month
From September to October, total employment increased in 14 regions. These areas posted a relatively significant one percent average gain.

Over the month, three regions recorded total employment declines. The Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSA reported a slight decrease, while both the Northwest Lower Michigan Region and the Northeast Lower Michigan Region experienced larger seasonal employment declines with the winding down of the summer tourism season.

Labor force levels mixed over month, year
In October, labor force levels were down in nine regions and up in eight. The labor force changes in most areas were minor over the month. Over the year, labor force levels increased in 10 regions, declined in six, and were essentially unchanged in the Flint MSA.

Seasonal payroll employment gains in education
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan increased in October by 16,000 to total 4,408,000. Job gains occurred primarily in local government education (+18,000) and state government education (+5,000) with the continued return of students to colleges, universities and local schools. The increases in government education were evident statewide.

Private-sector payroll jobs edged downward statewide in October by 6,000 or 0.2 percent. Within the private sector, a seasonal drop in leisure and hospitality services (-10,000) was somewhat offset by a seasonal gain in education and health services (+5,000). The only other notable change in payroll employment over the month was a decline in manufacturing (-5,000).

The October job loss in manufacturing occurred in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia MSA, and was due to temporary layoffs in the auto industry.

From October 2004 to October 2005, total payroll employment levels were mixed in Michigan’s various metropolitan areas. Gains were recorded Ann Arbor, Jackson, Lansing-East Lansing and Muskegon-Norton Shores MSAs. Payroll employment was little changed over the year in the Kalamazoo-Portage, Monroe, and Grand Rapids-Wyoming MSAs. The remaining seven metropolitan areas in the state registered varying degrees of payroll job loss since October 2004.

A drop in manufacturing employment was largely responsible for statewide payroll job decreases since October 2004. Most metropolitan areas recorded employment declines in manufacturing over the year.

Since October 2004, many of the state’s metropolitan areas showed weakness in the retail trade sector, while almost all metro areas displayed increases in the education and health services sector. Within education and health services, the health services component was the main driver for employment growth.

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This article appeared in the December 12, 2005 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who are employed in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.