Published: 3/23/2006

Unemployment rate increases in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. - Michigan's unemployment rate rose to 6.6 percent in February after sinking to its lowest rate in nearly four years in January, the state Department of Labor and Economic Growth reported yesterday.

February's rate was below the 7 percent of February, 2005, but was above the national rate of 4.8 percent. Michigan's January jobless rate was 6.2 percent.

The number of seasonally adjusted Michigan payroll jobs dropped by 9,000 between January and February, to 4.36 million.

Continued layoffs in manufacturing were responsible for the rise in last month's unemployment rate, said Rick Waclawek, director of the state department's bureau of labor market information.

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