The report card on Michigan's economy in October is that it is, essentially, unchanged. The unemployment rate went down a tick from 4.2 to 4.1%. Payrolls jobs dropped sharply, but that is an anomaly, as it was caused by the strike in the automotive industry.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in October, inching down by a tenth of a percentage point to 4.1 percent, according to data released...by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. However, payroll jobs fell sharply by 22,000, or 0.5 percent, over the month, due largely to a strike in the auto industry. (Persons on strike are counted as employed, having no impact on the unemployment rate. However, they are not included in the count of jobs, contributing to fewer payroll jobs.- Michigan DTMB

Nationally, the jobless rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month but was 0.5 percentage points below the Michigan rate. That has been consistent for a while now.

DTMB says "Michigan’s October 2019 jobless rate of 4.1 percent was a tenth of a percentage point above the state’s October 2018 rate, while the U.S. jobless rate edged down over that period by two-tenths of a percentage point."

 

 

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