Mich. jobless rate rose in December

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates increased in 13 of Michigan s 17 regional labor markets in December, state officials said Friday.
Total employment and labor force levels declined in most regions. Seasonal job losses occurred mainly in construction and government. Retail trade jobs increased.
Regional unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted, but national and state unemployment rates are adjusted to remove seasonal influences such as production cycles, holidays, model changeovers in the auto industry and climate conditions.
Michigan s seasonally adjusted jobless rate in December was 7.6 percent, highest in the nation.
Regional unadjusted jobless rates for December ranged from a low of 4.7 percent in Ann Arbor to a high of 10.8 percent in northeast lower Michigan, according to the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.
The state s major labor market areas, their seasonally unadjusted jobless rates for December and the change since November:
-- Ann Arbor, 4.7 percent, unchanged from 4.7 percent.
-- Battle Creek, 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent.
-- Bay City, 7.2 percent, up from 6.8 percent.
-- Detroit-Warren-Livonia, 8 percent, up from 7.2 percent.
-- Flint, 8.3 percent, unchanged from 8.3 percent.
-- Grand Rapids-Wyoming, 6 percent, up from 5.9 percent.
-- Holland-Grand Haven, 5.8 percent, up from 5.6 percent.
-- Jackson, 7.6 percent, up from 7.5 percent.
-- Kalamazoo-Portage, 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent.
-- Lansing-East Lansing, 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent.
-- Monroe, 6.5 percent, unchanged from 6.5 percent.
-- Muskegon-Norton Shores, 7 percent, down from 7.1 percent.
-- Niles-Benton Harbor, 7.1 percent, up from 6.8 percent.
-- Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, 7.4 percent, up from 7.1 percent.
-- Upper Peninsula, 8 percent, up from 7.2 percent.
-- Northeast Lower Michigan, 10.8 percent, up from 9.5.
-- Northwest Lower Michigan, 8.3 percent, up from 7.7 percent.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. MMMM