Unemployment edged downward

Michigans unemployment rate in October was the lowest in the state since January through March 2008. According to the Department of Technology, Management & Budget, the jobless rate last month edged downward by one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.1 percent. Total employment rose by 13,000 over the month while the number of unemployed fell by 8,000. The net impact was an increase of 5,000 in the states labor force in October. The Michigan jobless rate last month was one and a half percentage points below the states October 2013 rate of 8.6 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate in October was 5.8 percent.  (MRN)