LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The March unemployment report released Thursday by the State of Michigan does not reflect yet the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the state’s economy.
According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, seasonally unadjusted jobless rates rose in 14 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in March, but the data in the news release reflects the state’s employment status for the week of March 8 which was prior to the full impact of COVID-19 on the state labor market.
Most of the COVID-19-related layoffs that occurred in the second half of March are not reflected in the data.
For the record, Branch County’s unemployment rate was at 3.4 percent and was the 11th lowest of all Michigan counties.
Calhoun County was at 3.7 percent, Hillsdale County was at four percent and Saint Joseph County was at 3.5 percent.
There are fears the next unemployment report will be a throwback to the months after the Great Recession almost a dozen years ago when jobless rates soared into double digits.
