Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November increased by three-tenths of a percentage point to 9.6%, according to data released December 17 by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. Total employment fell by 35,000 and unemployment rose by 16,000, as the state labor force contracted over the month.

Michigan's November 2008 jobless rate was two and two-tenths percentage points above the state's November 2007 rate of 7.4%. In the same period, the national jobless rate recorded a similar advance, increasing by two percentage points.

"Michigan's labor market has rapidly deteriorated in the last several months due to the fallout of the ongoing national recession," said Rick Waclawek, director of the department's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. "Almost all industry sectors have been impacted as state payroll jobs have declined by nearly 60,000 in just the last two months."

The U.S. jobless rate in November increased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 6.7%.

Michigan's unemployment rate in November was the highest monthly rate for the state since March 1992.

Total employment in Michigan has fallen every month since January.

Since November 2007, statewide unemployment increased by 103,000, or 27.8%. National unemployment rose by a significantly larger 43.9% in the same period.