Slight Rise in Unemployment Rates

State officials say seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in May rose slightly in 12 of the state’s 17 major labor market regions. According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, total employment and labor force levels increased in all areas over the month. Spokesman Jason Palmer says the jobless rate increases in a number of regions reflected a large influx of workers entering the labor market to obtain seasonal employment. He says although many found employment in May, not all found jobs. All of Michigan’s 17 regional labor markets registered jobless rates below 10 percent last month. Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 7.5 percent.