Jobless rate drops in 16 labor markets

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The state says the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate decreased in 16 of Michigan's 17 major regional labor markets between January and February.

Figures were released Thursday by the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.

Rates ranged from a low of 6.5 percent in the Ann Arbor region to a high of 15.5 percent in Northeast Lower Michigan. Six regions saw unemployment rates below 10 percent last month.

The Detroit region saw a .1 percent increase in February over January's unemployment rate.

The state says the most pronounced over-the-month rate reductions were 12.6 to 11.8 percent in the Flint region and 11.8 to 10.5 percent in the Monroe region.

The jobless rate in all regions fell last month over February 2010.