By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-872210.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Michigan's unemployment rate dipped slightly in October, but the state still has the highest jobless rate in the nation.
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Michigan's had the nation's highest jobless rate for most of the past four years and October's rate of 15.1% was no exception.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says Nevada follows with a rate of 13% and Rhode Island has a rate of 12.9%. All three high-unemployment states had rates that dipped slightly last month. Alaska and Wyoming had the biggest jumps in their jobless rates.
Every state as well as the District of Columbia has a higher unemployment rate then they did a year ago.
A new University of Michigan forecast predicts unemployment in the state will probably peak in 2010, but job growth will be very slow and the jobless rate will probably remain at or above 15% into 2011.