LARA - October Jobless Rates Decrease Slightly in Most of Michigan's Major Labor Market Areas; Employment Up

Michigan Department of Career Development's Deputy Director for Workforce Programs John Palmer announced today that October seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates fell slightly in eight of Michigan's 12 major labor market areas. Employment and labor force levels increased in nine areas over the month.

"Most of the major labor market regions in Michigan recorded typical seasonal workforce patterns in October by recording job gains in education and cuts in recreation and tourism," Palmer said. "However, all of the state's major areas continued to exhibit varying degrees of weakness in their respective labor markets over the year."

The unemployment rate declines over the month in the eight areas were minor, with an average decline of 0.2 of a percentage point. The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula was unchanged over the month.

Jobless rates increased in three areas from September to October. The unemployment rate in the Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) spiked upward almost 2 full percentage points over the month due to short-term layoffs in the auto industry. The Northeast and Northwest Lower Michigan regions recorded minor seasonal advances of 0.4 and 0.2 of a percentage point, respectively.

Employment Up Over Month
From September to October, employment followed seasonal trends as levels increased in nine areas. Gains were fairly substantial, with most areas' employment levels up by around one percent or higher. Michigan's three northernmost labor market areas registered seasonal employment declines in October with the winding down of the summer tourism season.

Labor force levels increased in the nine metropolitan areas over the month and declined in the three northernmost labor market regions.

Unemployment Rates Up Over Year
From October 2002 to October 2003, unemployment rates rose in all 12 of the state's major labor market areas, with a significant median increase of 1.6 percentage points. The Jackson, Benton Harbor, Saginaw-Bay-Midland, and Lansing MSAs recorded the largest jobless rate hikes in that period.

Seasonal Payroll Employment Gains in Education
The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan increased in October by 31,000 to total 4,465,000. Job gains occurred primarily in local government education (+22,000) and state government education (+8,000) with the continued return of students to colleges, universities, and local schools. The increase in local government education was evident statewide.

Offsetting movements among various industry categories left the private sector with only a 4,000 increase in payroll jobs over the month. Within the private sector, gains in education and health services (+14,000) and retail trade (+9,000) were contrasted by job losses in leisure and hospitality (-10,000), professional and business services (-7,000), and construction (-3,000).

Statewide, manufacturing employment was essentially unchanged over the month. However, within the metropolitan areas, an increase in manufacturing employment in the Detroit MSA of 4,000 due to recalls from September's short-term layoffs in auto-related manufacturing was offset by an auto-related decline of 4,000 in the Lansing MSA.

Each major metropolitan area in the state recorded an increase in total payroll employment over the month, with the exception of the Lansing MSA.

Over the year, every major metropolitan area in Michigan recorded declines in total payroll employment, with losses ranging from a little over one percent to two and a half percent.

County Jobless Rates Mixed Over Month, Up Over Year
Slightly more than half of Michigan's 83 counties recorded unemployment rate increases in October while the rates in 31 counties decreased. The jobless rates in five counties were unchanged. The rate changes over the month were minimal, with about half the counties in the state registering increases or decreases of 0.2 of a percentage point or less.

Over the year, unemployment rates were up in 80 counties, with a substantial median increase of 1.5 percentage points.

A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted October workforce estimates for Michigan and its 12 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for October.

Note to Eds.: Please ensure that the source for state unemployment rates reads "Michigan Department of Career Development," or "Michigan Department of Career Development, Employment Service Agency."

The Michigan Department of Career Development is the state government agency charged with providing the skilled workforce Michigan needs to enhance and maintain its economy. To this end, the state's career and training development agency is working with employers, K-12 schools, community colleges, and local Workforce Development Boards to develop a comprehensive career development system. For more information about the Michigan Department of Career Development, visit the department's Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdcd or call 1-866-MY-GOALS (voice/TTY).

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
ANN ARBOR MSA				month	year
(Washtenaw, Lenawee, Livingston Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	314,600	314,700	321,200	2.1%	2.1%
Total Employment	305,100	301,900	308,900	2.3%	1.2%
Unemployment	9,500	12,800	12,300	-3.9%	29.5%
Rate (percent)	3.0	4.1	3.8

Contact: Erica Nakfoor, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (517) 492-5550

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
BENTON HARBOR MSA				month	year
(Berrien County)
Civilian Labor Force	79,900	81,100	82,400	1.6%	3.1%
Total Employment	75,800	75,300	76,700	1.9%	1.2%
Unemployment	4,100	5,800	5,700	-1.7%	39.0%
Rate (percent)	5.2	7.1	6.9

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (517) 841-5634

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
DETROIT MSA (Data in thousands)				month	year
(Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe,
Lapeer, St. Clair Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	2,200	2,257	2,273	0.7%	3.3%
Total Employment	2,076	2,095	2,113	0.9%	1.8%
Unemployment	124	162	160	-1.2%	29.0%
Rate (percent)	5.7	7.2	7.0

Contact: Bruce Weaver, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (313) 456-3091

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
FLINT MSA				month	year
(Genesee County)
Civilian Labor Force	182,700	188,100	189,700	0.9%	3.8%
Total Employment	168,900	170,800	172,400	0.9%	2.1%
Unemployment	13,800	17,300	17,300	0.0%	25.4%
Rate (percent)	7.5	9.2	9.1

Contact: Charles Gould, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (989) 776-1508

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
GRAND RAPIDS - MUSKEGON - HOLLAND MSA				month	year
(Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon
and Allegan Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	605,100	619,100	624,800	0.9%	3.3%
Total Employment	569,700	574,000	579,800	1.0%	1.8%
Unemployment	35,400	45,000	45,000	0.0%	27.1%
Rate (percent)	5.9	7.3	7.2

Contact: Brian Waters, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (616) 393-7219

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
JACKSON MSA				month	year
(Jackson County)
Civilian Labor Force	79,100	80,000	81,000	1.3%	2.4%
Total Employment	74,500	73,900	74,900	1.4%	0.5%
Unemployment	4,700	6,200	6,100	-1.6%	29.8%
Rate (percent)	5.9	7.7	7.6

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (517) 841-5634

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
KALAMAZOO - BATTLE CREEK MSA				month	year
(Kalamazoo, Calhoun and
Van Buren counties)
Civilian Labor Force	228,700	229,700	234,500	2.1%	2.5%
Total Employment	217,900	215,500	220,400	2.3%	1.1%
Unemployment	10,900	14,200	14,200	0.0%	30.3%
Rate (percent)	4.7	6.2	6.0

Contact: Leonidas Murembya, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (517) 841-5634

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
LANSING MSA				month	year
(Clinton, Eaton, and
Ingham Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	248,200	252,700	258,300	2.2%	4.1%
Total Employment	240,000	241,300	241,700	0.2%	0.7%
Unemployment	8,200	11,400	16,500	44.7%	101.2%
Rate (percent)	3.3	4.5	6.4

Contact: Erica Nakfoor, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (517) 492-5550

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
SAGINAW - BAY - MIDLAND MSA				month	year
(Saginaw, Bay, Midland Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	197,800	201,100	206,200	2.5%	4.2%
Total Employment	187,000	185,000	190,500	3.0%	1.9%
Unemployment	10,800	16,100	15,600	-3.1%	44.4%
Rate (percent)	5.4	8.0	7.6

Contact: Charles Gould, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (989) 776-1508

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
UPPER PENINSULA LMA				month	year
(15 Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	151,600	157,800	157,500	-0.2%	3.9%
Total Employment	144,300	148,700	148,400	-0.2%	2.8%
Unemployment	7,300	9,100	9,100	0.0%	24.7%
Rate (percent)	4.8	5.8	5.8

Contact: Kathy Salow, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (906) 226-3669

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
NORTHEAST LOWER MICHIGAN				month	year
(Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford,
Iosco, Montmorency,Ogemaw, Oscoda,
Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon Counties)
Civilian Labor Force	92,650	95,725	95,350	-0.4%	2.9%
Total Employment	86,875	88,675	87,950	-0.8%	1.2%
Unemployment	5,775	7,050	7,400	5.0%	28.1%
Rate (percent)	6.2	7.4	7.8

Contact: Jim Rhein, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (313) 456-3095

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
NORTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN				month	year
(Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Benzie,
Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau,
Manistee, Missaukee, Wexford counties)
Civilian Labor Force	146,875	154,175	153,550	-0.4%	4.5%
Total Employment	139,500	144,475	143,500	-0.7%	2.9%
Unemployment	7,375	9,700	10,050	3.6%	36.3%
Rate (percent)	5.0	6.3	6.5

Contact: Jim Rhein, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (313) 456-3095

	Oct-02	Sep-03	Oct-03	% change	% change
MICHIGAN (Data in thousands)				month	year
Civilian Labor Force	4,980	5,092	5,144	1.0%	3.3%
Total Employment	4,712	4,742	4,790	1.0%	1.7%
Unemployment	268	350	354	1.1%	32.1%
Rate (percent)	5.4	6.9	6.9

Contact: Bruce Weaver, MDCD/ESA Area Analyst (313) 456-3091

MICHIGAN COUNTIES RANKED BY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE - OCTOBER 2003

1	MACKINAC COUNTY	3.0	43	SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY	7.3
2	WASHTENAW COUNTY	3.1	44	GRATIOT COUNTY	7.3
3	LIVINGSTON COUNTY	3.7	45	DELTA COUNTY	7.4
4	LEELANAU COUNTY	3.8	46	BARAGA COUNTY	7.5
5	ISABELLA COUNTY	4.0	47	KENT COUNTY	7.5
6	HOUGHTON COUNTY	4.3	48	MANISTEE COUNTY	7.5
7	CASS COUNTY	4.4	49	KALKASKA COUNTY	7.5
8	BARRY COUNTY	4.7	50	ALPENA COUNTY	7.6
9	OAKLAND COUNTY	4.9	51	JACKSON COUNTY	7.6
10	MARQUETTE COUNTY	5.0	52	ROSCOMMON COUNTY	7.7
11	IRON COUNTY	5.4	53	OCEANA COUNTY	7.8
12	KALAMAZOO COUNTY	5.5	54	ST JOSEPH COUNTY	7.8
13	ALGER COUNTY	5.5	55	OSCEOLA COUNTY	7.9
14	OTTAWA COUNTY	5.6	56	OGEMAW COUNTY	7.9
15	LUCE COUNTY	5.6	57	CRAWFORD COUNTY	7.9
16	MECOSTA COUNTY	5.6	58	IONIA COUNTY	8.0
17	CHEBOYGAN COUNTY	5.7	59	WEXFORD COUNTY	8.0
18	MIDLAND COUNTY	5.7	60	PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY	8.0
19	CHIPPEWA COUNTY	5.8	61	HURON COUNTY	8.2
20	ALLEGAN COUNTY	5.9	62	ANTRIM COUNTY	8.3
21	GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY	5.9	63	MONTCALM COUNTY	8.3
22	EATON COUNTY	5.9	64	TUSCOLA COUNTY	8.4
23	MISSAUKEE COUNTY	6.0	65	ST. CLAIR COUNTY	8.4
24	DICKINSON COUNTY	6.0	66	SHIAWASSEE COUNTY	8.4
25	CLINTON COUNTY	6.1	67	HILLSDALE COUNTY	8.5
26	MONROE COUNTY	6.4	68	NEWAYGO COUNTY	8.7
27	MACOMB COUNTY	6.4	69	IOSCO COUNTY	8.7
28	EMMET COUNTY	6.4	70	SAGINAW COUNTY	8.7
29	BENZIE COUNTY	6.4	71	WAYNE COUNTY	8.8
30	GOGEBIC COUNTY	6.5	72	CLARE COUNTY	8.9
31	BRANCH COUNTY	6.6	73	GENESEE COUNTY	9.1
32	OTSEGO COUNTY	6.7	74	ALCONA COUNTY	9.3
33	INGHAM COUNTY	6.7	75	MUSKEGON COUNTY	9.6
34	CALHOUN COUNTY	6.7	76	KEWEENAW COUNTY	9.8
35	LENAWEE COUNTY	6.8	77	ARENAC COUNTY	9.8
36	LAPEER COUNTY	6.8	78	SANILAC COUNTY	9.9
37	ONTONAGON COUNTY	6.8	79	MONTMORENCY COUNTY	10.2
38	BERRIEN COUNTY	6.9	80	LAKE COUNTY	10.3
39	MENOMINEE COUNTY	6.9	81	GLADWIN COUNTY	10.7
40	VAN BUREN COUNTY	6.9	82	MASON COUNTY	11.0
41	BAY COUNTY	7.1	83	OSCODA COUNTY	11.9
42	CHARLEVOIX COUNTY	7.3

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