By Staff
LANSING – Michigan's unemployment rate rose to 12.9 percent in April – its highest mark since late 1983.
The state said Michigan's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was pushed up by large job losses in manufacturing and construction.
Last month's jobless rate was the highest in Michigan since unemployment reached 13 percent in November 1983.
Michigan's jobless rate in March, 12.6 percent, already was highest in the nation.
The national unemployment rate rose from 8.5 percent in March to 8.9 percent in April.
A year ago, Michigan's April unemployment rate was 7.9 percent. But it has been rising fairly steadily ever since and is projected to go even higher.