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Coverage from across Michigan and the state Capitol with the Michigan Public Radio Network and Interlochen Public Radio.

Fewer Michigan Workers Compete For Jobs

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.8 percent last month. But the drop was due mostly to fewer people competing for jobs.

Gains in manufacturing jobs were offset by layoffs in the hospitality and government sectors. All in all, 17,000 people simply dropped out of the workforce, which pushed the jobless number down.

The state unemployment rate is slightly below where it was a year ago, when it was 9 percent. There was a boost in hiring over the past 12 months in manufacturing, business services, and healthcare. The state’s 14.5 percent rate of unemployment and under-employment is also down from last year. That number measures people who are unemployed and looking for work, people who’ve stopped looking, and part-time workers who’d like to be full-time.

The new jobless numbers come as about 45 thousand long-term unemployed people in Michigan are about to lose extended federal unemployment benefits.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.