COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The unemployment number in June for Branch County improved and did likewise in 9 of the state’s 17 labor markets with the rest reporting otherwise stable figures last month. The Branch County rate for June was 5.2%, compared to 5.3% for May. A year ago last month, it was 6.7%.
State officials said yesterday that employment and labor force levels declined moderately across the state. Most of the changes were seasonal with construction and tourism jobs up and teaching positions down.
West Michigan Industrial economist Dr. Brian Long from Grand Valley State University says it continues a long positive trend. Nationally the news is also good with the number of people seeking unemployment benefits way down, to the lowest level since 1973, during the Nixon administration.
