By Staff
LANSING - Michigan's December 2005 jobless rate fell by eight-tenths of a percentage point from the December 2004 rate of 7.5 percent.
In the same period, the national jobless rate decreased by five-tenths of a percentage point.
Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December edged upward by one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.7 percent, according to data released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG).
The annual unemployment rate for 2005 showed a decline of three-tenths of a percentage point from the 2004 annual rate.
Labor force, total employment and the number of unemployed in the state changed little over the month.
December was the fifth consecutive month that the state's jobless rate remained below 7 percent.
With a slight increase over the month, Michigan's labor force continued its upward trend in 2005. From January to December 2005, the state's labor force increased by 52,000 or 1 percent.
Total employment in Michigan has been stable for the last four months, remaining within a narrow range around 4,795,000 since September.
Total employment averaged 4,765,000 in 2005, while the annual average unemployment level was 348,000. From 2004 to 2005, unemployment in Michigan declined by 12,000 or 3.3 percent. The state's 2005 average labor force was 5,113,000.