Michigan jobless rate jumps 0.4 points to 9.4 ercent

9/19/2012

LANSING — Michigan authorities say the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose 0.4 percentage points in the latest month to 9.4 percent.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget released the August jobless figures today. The nation's August unemployment rate was 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in July.

Michigan's jobless has fallen 1 percentage point over 12 months from an August, 2011, level of 10.4 percent. But it has risen for four straight months from April's 8.3 percent.

Michigan says total employment in the state dropped by 18,000 in August and the number of unemployed rose by 16,000. The overall civilian labor force was little changed at 4.7 million.