WASHINGTON: The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in March fell in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget reported. Total employment levels advanced in most regions over the month, while workforce totals declined in nearly all areas. Monroe County’s work force decreased by 400 workers to 77,200 from February to March. The total civilian workforce also was slightly down compared to the same month last year when the county’s workforce was 77,300. The total number of unemployed workers fell to 3,500, marking a 4.6 percent unemployment rate. The county’s February unemployment rate was 1 percent higher at 5.6 percent. The March rate also was down slightly from the March, 2016, unemployment rate of 4.7 percent. Tim Lake, president of the Monroe County Business Development Corp., attributed the increase in February’s unemployment in part to job losses at Ventower, which laid off 37 positions in manufacturing and quality in late January. The decrease in March’s unemployment rate also could be attributed to those workers re-entering the workforce, Mr. Lake said. “Some of those who lost their job are likely back in the workforce because they are in a high-demand field,” he said.
The county is experiencing a leveling off in its unemployment but that also means less people to hire for open positions, Mr. Lake said. “There isn’t a pool of people anymore,” he said. “We still have a challenge and we are working with the education system to get more workers into the pipeline in skilled trades.” Between February and March, unemployment rates decreased in all 17 major regions with drops ranging from .6 to 1.7 percentage points. The state’s largest unemployment rate was in the Northeast Lower Michigan region, the Niles-Benton Harbor Metropolitan area and the Bay City area, the office said in a statement. “March, 2017, was a favorable month for Michigan’s local labor markets,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives in a statement. “Employment levels were mainly up and jobless rates moved downward.” The national seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the month. Monroe County’s unemployment rate was the 22nd lowest of the 83 counties. Ottawa County had the lowest unemployment rate for the month with 2.8 percent while Mackinac County had the highest at 20.6 percent.
