Unemployment in southwest Michigan and the entire state is higher than what had been reported by the state over the past several months. Kinexus Group COO Jake Gustafson says the federal and state governments adjusted the numbers as they do every February.
“What we did see this year was a massive correction largely due to COVID’s unusual circumstances as a once-in-a-century pandemic,” says Gustafson. “It’s had some outsized effects on the labor force.”
Gustafson says the official unemployment rate in January was around 5.7% for Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.
“The adjustment takes us back up to 7.2%,” says Gustafson.
Even with higher unemployment, however, Kinexus says there are positives. Job postings are up 77% with the median hiring wage over $50,000. Kinexus vice president of public relations and government affairs Al Pscholka says the jobs that are open are more than just entry-level.
