Lansing region's jobless rate lowest in 15 years

Alexander Alusheff | Lansing State Journal

LANSING – The region’s unemployment rate has hit its lowest point in 15 years.

In November, the Lansing-East Lansing Metropolitan Statistical Area’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, according to preliminary numbers from the Department of Management, Technology and Budget, down from the month before.

The last time the rate was that low was in June 2001, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fewer people are unemployed compared to June 2001 as well. In November, 8,300 people were unemployed. In June 2001, 8,497 people were unemployed.

However, the labor force and employment levels are slightly lower than in June 2001. The labor force in November was 244,400 compared to 248,327. Employment in November was 236,100 compared to 239,830 back then.

Since October, 2,200 jobs have been added in the region, which consists of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Many of those jobs come from the government sector and trade, transportation and utilities sector, which added a combined 1,200 jobs.

Since last November, employment has grown by 2,900 jobs.

The region now has the third lowest unemployment level in the state behind Grand Rapids-Wyoming and Ann Arbor.

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.