State Unemployment Rate Falls

UNDATED (WKZO) -- The State’s Unemployment rate fell for the 4th straight month in January, but not by much. It dropped from 14.5 in December, to 14.3 a month later. It remains the highest in the U.S. but at least it’s headed in the right direction. It was still higher than it was in January of last year, and well above the national figure, which has fallen to 9.7%.

Looking for a career change or being forced to make one? The state of Michigan has released what it says will be the 50 jobs that will be most in demand in the future and most of them demand an education.

What the state will need the most will be Registered nurses, Computer systems analysts, engineers, executive secretaries, professional big rig truck drivers, customer service representatives, and sales people of all types. In fact anything in computers or the health care industry looks solid. Skilled trades like construction, brick laying, and roofers will also be needed.

Manpower says job prospects will improve in just about every major labor market in Michigan in the second quarter of this year. It reflects a national improvement in job prospects according to Manpower’s Melanie Holmes. In the Kalamazoo Portage market, 23% or nearly a quarter of the employers expect to add to their payroll, 9% expect to cut staff and 66% plan no changes.