BY JAKE NEHER
Michigan Public Radio Network
Michigan's unemployment rate went unchanged last month. The rate stayed at 8.9 percent, the same rate reported in November. State officials said overall job gains have leveled off since last summer.
But state budget department analyst Bruce Weaver said 2012 was still a good year for Michigan jobs.
"The unemployment rate in Michigan averaged 8.9 percent for the entire year. That's well below the unemployment rate we had a year ago, back in 2011, when the rate was 10.3." Weaver said.
Weaver said the biggest job gains came from the manufacturing industry, both in December and throughout 2012.
The national unemployment rate last month was 7.8 percent. The U.S. rate also did not change between November and December.
Copyright 2013, MPRN