Finding A Job Gets Tougher In Michigan

DETROIT - Newly released figures indicate just how difficult it is to land a job in Michigan.

According to figures released by the state, the unemployment rate for September was 15.3 percent, which is more than 6 percent higher than this time one year ago.

Economic experts said Friday Michigan's jobless rate is probably higher than reported because it does not take into account people who have given up trying to find a job or those who are working part-time.

Coretta Stoudemire said she knows the frustration of finding a job all too well. Stoudemire, a recovering cancer patient, was looking for work Friday after losing a food services job she started just months ago.

"Aug. 31 was the opening date, the grand opening," said Stoudemire. "Now, they are laying off already. We haven't even had our 90 days in (on the job) to get our unemployment. So I'm looking for any and anything available."

Friday, Stoudemire attended a Neighborhood Legal Services Job Fair at Cobo Center. Thousands of other job-seekers turned out for the event, which featured only part-time and seasonal positions.

Experts estimated that for every one job available in Michigan, at least seven people will apply. Stoudemire was not surprised by the figure and said that's just about all she and her friends talk about. "There are twenty people I know, personally, that are unemployed right now," Stoudemire said.

According to figures released by the state, the unemployment problem is especially high in the Detroit area.

The figures show that for the month of September the jobless rate for Detroit, Warren and Livonia hit nearly 18 percent, and was nine percent higher than this time a year ago.

During the first half of this year, from January to June, Michigan lost 14,000 jobs, state figures show. Since July, another 11,000 positions have been lost.

Experts said the worst appears to be over, but also cautioned additional job cuts were likely.

"That's probably going to peak in the first quarter of 2010, and plateau and probably doesn't begin to seriously decline until late 2010," said Economic Analyst David Sowerby of Loomis Sayles.

An end to the downward cycle can't come soon enough for the people attending Friday's job fair, many of whom admit, fatigue is setting in as they hunt for a job.

Job-seekers said they are also getting weary because some job fairs promise interviews and positions "on the spot", but ultimately do not provide them.

According to one frustrated woman at Friday's job fair, she spent her last $5 on parking hoping to land a job in person that she could have also applied for, free-of-charge, online.

MORE FROM CLICKONDETROIT.COM

ClickonDetroit.com Section Front

Greek Artist Restoring Michigan Church Local School Voted 2nd Best In Nation Escapees Stab Officer With Pitchfork MI House, Senate Pass Smoking Ban I-75 Bridge To Reopen Next Week ClickonDetroit.com Section Front   Add ClickonDetroit.com headlines to your news reader: