By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
Lansing, MI – Michigan's January jobless rate of 11.6% does not include people who gave up looking for work, or have part-time jobs. Those groups boosted Michigan's unemployed-and-under-employed rate to 18.7%
State and federal statistics show almost 352,000 people in Michigan had either given up looking for work in the past year, or were holding part-time positions while seeking full-time employment.
Sharon Parks is with the Michigan League for Human Services. She says often, these people have exhausted their unemployment benefits. She says these are people struggling through this economy by patching together odd jobs, and getting help from family and friends.
The national unemployed-and-under-employed rate is about three points lower than Michigan at 15.4%.