Michigan jobless ratedown slightly to 7.1 percent

LANSING (AP) - Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has dropped again in the latest month to its lowest level in more than six years. The state Department of Technology, Management & Budget said Wednesday that October's jobless rate fell 0.1 points to 7.1 percent. That's down from 8.6 percent in October 2013 and is the lowest since March 2008. Michigan's unemployment rate still tops the national rate, which fell 0.1 points in October to 5.8 percent. The state agency says Michigan's jobless rate now is similar to its pre-Great Recession level in 2003-2007, but that's because of a significant drop in the size of the labor force since then. Michigan's civilian labor force grew by 5,000 and employment rose by 13,000 in the latest month to 4.293 million. -------- Online: Report: http://1.usa.gov/14N5lBm. Published: Fri, Nov 21, 2014