LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Apr. 4, 2025) – The impact of federal government layoffs and the economy was apparently seen in the latest state regional unemployment numbers.
In data disclosed on Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, not seasonally-adjusted jobless rates rose in 16 of the state’s major labor market areas for February, and in 71 of its 83 counties.
The Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood MSA, which includes Ottawa County, went up two tenths of a percentage point at 4.9 percent, 1.3 percent more than a year ago. Civilian labor force numbers also fell by nearly three thousand to 630,600.
Ottawa County itself had a jobless hike of two tenths of a percentage point to 4.5 percent, and that level is 1.4 percent higher than at this time in 2024. Allegan County, which is in no major labor market area, had a 5.7 percent unemployment rate, up four tenths from January, and a full two percentage points more than 12 months ago.
These levels continue an upward trend of increased unemployment over the last year, according to state agency officials, who didn’t offer any reasons for this trend in this latest monthly update of jobless figures.
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