Muskegon Chronicle

November 29, 2005

Associated Press with Local Reports

Unemployment rates fell in all of Michigan's 17 major labor market areas in October, including Muskegon and Ottawa counties, state officials said Monday.

Muskegon County had an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent in October, down from 6 percent in September and 6.6 percent a year ago. In Ottawa County, the October jobless rate was at 4 percent, down from 4.6 percent in September and 4.8 percent a year ago.

Similar unemployment reductions were seen in other, smaller West Michigan counties.

The Oceana County unemployment rate for October was 5.8 percent, down from 6.3 percent in September and 6.6 percent a year ago.

In Newaygo County, the October jobless rate was 5.4 percent, down from 5.8 percent both in September and a year ago. Mason County's rate was 5.1 percent in October, down from 5.9 percent in September and 7.1 percent a year ago.

Seasonally unadjusted jobless rates declined from September's levels in part because schools hired more support staff as the new academic year kicked into high gear, the state said. Compared to a year ago, most of the job gain across the state has come in the service-providing sector.

The industrial job loss has been especially high in Ottawa County. Manufacturing jobs have declined 9.5 percent the past year in the Grand Haven-Holland labor market. There were 37,600 industrial jobs in October 2004 compared to 34,000 now.

In Muskegon County, there were 13,400 industrial jobs in October compared to 13,600 in September and 13,800 a year ago.

Total employment rose in 14 of Michigan's 17 regions from September to October.

About 18,000 jobs were added statewide in local government education, while 5,000 jobs were added in state government education.

About 10,000 jobs were lost in leisure and hospitality services as the summer and early fall tourism seasons ended.

The regional unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.3 percent in the Ann Arbor area to a high of 6 percent in the Flint and Detroit areas, the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth said.

Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in October.

The national rate was 5 percent.