The jobless rate in the Ann Arbor metropolitan area dropped to 4.3 percent in November, down 0.3 percent from October and 1.1 percent from November 2011, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and the Budget.
While both levels are down from October, that decrease is seasonally expected and both numbers are up from November of 2011.
The retail trade grew by 800 jobs in November as stores hired additional sales staff for anticipated seasonal increases in holiday business. That spike outpaced the standard 500 jobs the region typically gains annually during the month.
Public sector jobs also rose as education and health care-related growth continued to spur the region’s economy.
Goods producing jobs in construction fell slightly due to winter-related business slow-downs, but manufacturing held steady in the region.
Washtenaw County has the lowest unemployment rate Michigan by nearly half a percent, and is significantly below the statewide 7.4 percent unemployment rate.
Ann Arbor has added 4,200 jobs since November 2011, with the vast majority of those gains coming in public sector jobs and the “professional and business services” category.
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