Michigan’s unemployment in May hit its lowest rate since 2000.
It was the state’s lowest unemployment rate in 17 years, largely driven by 21-thousand people who left the workforce in May.
Anna Heaton is the press secretary for the Governor’s office. She said since 2010 there has been a slow but steady upswing in Michigan’s labor market.
“The job gains since December 2010 were primarily in manufacturing with 128 hundred thousand jobs and then we had job gains also in scientific and technical services and healthcare.”
Heaton said 3,000 more people were employed in May.
“Overall the workforce has grown since 15 point 5 percent. We still have work to do to get back where we are before the lost decade but overall the workforce numbers are very very very healthy.”
The shifts put Michigan 4.2 percent unemployment rate - just below the national average.