Unemployment Rates Rise In 13 Of 17 Major Michigan Labor Markets

LANSING (AP) — Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates have gone up slightly in 13 of Michigan's 17 major labor market areas.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget said in a news release Thursday that unemployment rates rose 0.5 percentage points or fewer from June to July in the 13 regions. The biggest increases were in the Flint, Monroe, and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan areas.

Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Director Jason Palmer says payroll jobs followed typical seasonal patterns last month, including cutbacks in local government education and planned reductions in the auto industry.

Unemployment rates dropped in all 17 major regions from July 2014, falling by as many as 2.9 percentage points. The biggest drops were seen in Detroit area, northeast lower Michigan, and the Muskegon area.

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