Mich. unemployment reaches 12.9 percent in April

5/20/2009

LANSING, Mich. Michigan s unemployment rate hit 12.9 percent in April, the state s highest monthly rate since hitting 13 percent in November 1983.

The national unemployment rate rose from 8.5 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth said Wednesday that the state rate was pushed up by large job losses in manufacturing and construction.

A year ago, Michigan s April unemployment rate was 7.9 percent.

Economists from the Michigan Treasury Department and the House and Senate Fiscal agencies last week reached a consensus that state unemployment could average as much as 14 percent this year and 15.3 percent in 2010.