Most W MI jobless rates down over 2009

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Unemployment rates in four of five West Michigan metro areas were down in May compared to the same month last year, the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth announced Thursday.

Kalamazoo-Portage was the only West Michigan metro area to post an increase.

"We essentially flattened out from the worst period in our labor market in a long time," department analyst Jim Rhein told 24 Hour News 8.

The numbers do reflect people who have exhausted unemployment benefits, Rhein said. "It's all inclusive."

Metro Grand Rapids, which includes Barry, Ionia, Kent and Newaygo counties, saw a small drop to 10.9 percent from 11.1 percent last May.

The rate in the Battle Creek area, covering Calhoun County, went to 11.5 percent from 11.9 percent last May.

The Holland-Grand Haven area, which consists of Ottawa County, dropped to 11.8 percent from 12.4 percent.

Muskegon County saw the largest drop, landing at 14 percent this May compared to 14.8 last year.

The Kalamazoo-Portage area rate, which covers Kalamazoo County, rose a full point to 11.2 percent from 10.2 percent. The area regularly posts unemployment rates among the lowest in the state.

When the numbers are compared to last month, all metros posted a drop.

"The optimism here is that we're seeing seasonal changes that we did not get in May 2009," Rhein said.

The bad news?

"The rate has declined over the year, but we're still well over pre-recessionary jobless rates," he said.