Michigan unemployment rate jumps 1.1% to 15.2%

7/15/2009

LANSING, Mich. Michigan s already high unemployment rate jumped 1.1 percent in June, hitting 15.2 percent.

State officials say the latest jobless rate was 7.1 percentage points above the state s June 2008 rate of 8.1 percent.

Rick Waclawek of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives said Wednesday that a large drop in manufacturing jobs caused by restructuring in the auto industry accounted for much of the rise.

General Motors and Chrysler shed jobs as they went through bankruptcy.

The national unemployment rate in June was 9.5 percent. Ohio's June rate will be released Friday.