Ann Arbor area unemployment rate continues to fall as labor force grows

The Ann Arbor area unemployment rate fell for the third straight month to 4.9 percent in October. The area’s jobless rate was significantly lower than both the national 7.5 percent unemployment rate and Michigan’s 8.3 percent rate.

Job growth in the region was primarily seasonal, with a loss in construction and hospitality jobs offset by an increase in the number of private sector healthcare and educational service industry positions. Retail jobs held steady in the region, with seasonal gains due to holiday shopping expected to kick in during November and December.

Strong Black Friday retail showings in the county as well as the job fairs held at malls and elsewhere indicate that the seasonal retail gains should arrive on time.

The region showed gains in the number of professional and business services jobs and manufacturing held steady from the previous month. The biggest growth was in government jobs, with the primary drivers being the education and public health sectors.

Washtenaw County continued to be one of the leaders in the state, with the second lowest unemployment numbers after Mackinac County’s 4.3 percent rate. Overall, there were 2,300 more nonfarm jobs in the area than in the same period in 2011.

The area’s civilian labor force, the number of people the government considers either employed or actively seeking employment, grew by 2,300 from the previous month to 184,700. That was 3,700 more than the previous year.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2