Leelanau is the silver lining

The Leelanau Enterprise reports that in the dark cloud that is our state’s economy, Leelanau County is a bright spot:

The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth reported Tuesday that unemployment rates rose in all 17 major labor market areas in the state, including the northwest Lower Michigan region that consists of Leelanau and nine other counties. The state’s jobless rate went from 8.4 percent in September to 9.2 percent in October – the same totals tallied in the region.

In Leelanau County, however, the October unemployment rate was unchanged from September. Leelanau and Isabella counties share the state’s lowest jobless rate at 5.9 percent, while Baraga County in the Upper Peninsula remains the highest at 14.2 percent.

…Only Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties had unemployment rates of below 8 percent in the northwest Lower Michigan region. Grand Traverse was 19th in the state at 7.6 percent, and was followed regionally by Benzie (28th at 8.5 percent), Manistee (36th at 8.8 percent), Kalkaska (42nd at 9.2 percent), Emmet (48th at 9.4 percent), Antrim (61st at 10.4 percent), Missaukee (71st at 11.3 percent), Charlevoix (73rd at 11.6 percent) and Wexford (81st at 13.6 percent). Total employment in the region was at 140,100 in October, compared to 143,200 in September.

The photo is The Sleeping Bear by .jowo.. Definitely take a moment to see it larger and also view it in his Michigan’s Little Finger Slideshow!