KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget reported on Thursday that Kalamazoo County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in October, compared to September, but was even with October 2022.
The jobless rate in both October 2023 and 2022 in Kalamazoo County was 3.7 percent, compared to 3.8 percent in September 2023.
The data showed not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in 13 Michigan labor market areas over the month
Wayne Rourke from the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics said, “Michigan regional unemployment rates generally exhibited minor declines despite autorelated layoffs throughout the state in October. However, a prominent unemployment rate increase, coupled with decreases in employment and payroll jobs, was seen in the Detroit metro area over the month.”
The report went on to say 48 Michigan counties exhibited jobless rate declines between September and October while 51 counties displayed rate decreases over the past year.
Regional workforce levels went up in 14 Michigan regions over the month while all regions exhibited labor force increases over the year.
In neighboring counties. the jobless rate in St. Joseph County was 4.6 percent in October, up from 4.2 percent in September, while the October rate was 4.2 percent in Calhoun County, 3.4 percent in Allegan County, 4.2 percent in Van Buren County, and 4.3 percent in Cass County.
Michigan’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was at 4.2 percent, up from 3.9 percent in September.
