During the week of Sept. 29, the number of Michigan residents collecting unemployment benefits was down to 34,194, a record low. The record high was during the week of Jan. 24, 2009, when 363,212 residents received an unemployment check.

Michigan also set a new record for the lowest number of initial unemployment insurance claims in September, with 4,079 new claims for benefits during the first week of the month. That compares to 76,702 who filed new laims during the week of Jan. 10, 2009.