LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Unemployment in the Kalamazoo-Portage metropolitan area dipped to 4.2 percent last month.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget says the rate was at 5.2 percent in July.
The agency says the bump can be credited to the recall of school employees, a drop in summer and seasonal job-hunters and an increase in full-time jobs.
Manufacturing, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality saw the biggest month-over increases, with each sector adding between 700 and 800 jobs.
The biggest loser, however, was transportation and utilities. That industry lost around 500 jobs.
Counties throughout southwest Michigan saw unemployment similar declines.
– Anthony Pollreisz
