LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Sept. 19, 2025) – Although joblessness fell slightly last month, concerns about addressing the needs of those who are out of work was the focus of a Thursday press briefing in Lansing.
According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, the state’s unemployment rate for August fell a tenth of a percentage point to 5.2 percent, nearly a full percentage point higher than the national average. Jobs declined by seven thousand statewide, and the number of unemployed people dropped by six thousand.
Members of the Michigan Legislative Labor Caucus unveiled a nine-bill package that would, in part, increase the unemployment benefit rate to 5.1 percent, allow recipients to earn up to half of their benefit rate without reducing benefits, and increase the hardship waiver to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Second-term Democratic House Representative Joey Andrews of St. Joseph is among the sponsors of the legislation.
All of the bills introduced on the House Floor on Thursday were referred to the Committee on Economic Competition for further consideration.
-Michael Arney of WKZO-AM/FM contributed to this story.
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