Assembly line at the Ford Rouge Assembly Plant – The Arab American News.

LANSING – Michigan’s unemployment rate in January dropped below 5 percent for the first time in 15 years, after a 19,000 job increase in the manufacturing, financial, leisure and hospitality sectors in the state.

The hike in job creation led to a two-tenths of a percent decrease in unemployment to 4.9 percent, mirroring the national unemployment rate, and is the lowest in Michigan since 2001, according to the National Bureau of Labor
Statistics.

Gov. Snyder lauded the results.

“Our falling unemployment rate shows that when Michiganders work together to solve difficult challenges, we can have outstanding results,” Snyder said in a statement. “In December 2010, Michigan’s unemployment was one of the worst in the nation, but today, it’s at its lowest point in 15 years. That’s something we should be proud of.”

A monthly survey of employers revealed sizable increases in several sectors in Michigan. The manufacturing, leisure and hospitality markets saw an increase in 5,000 jobs, while financial services added 3000. Other sectors, including education and health services, business, trade, transportation and utility services saw a lesser increase of 2,000 jobs each.

“Now we need to look to the future and focus on solving the problems still facing Michigan,” Snyder said. “We need to work together in order to help Flint move forward, improve education for students in Detroit and create more high-skilled talent for in-demand jobs. We have come a long way, but we cannot be satisfied. We will continue to work to find long-term solutions to improve our state for everyone who has chosen to make Michigan their
home.”