LANSING ? Michigan’s various metropolitan areas saw little change in their unemployment rates from August to September, but all are experiencing higher unemployment than they had a year ago, the Department of Labor and Economic Growth announced Thursday.

The report, noting that September marks the end of the tourist season, said total employment dropped in 10 regions from levels in August and dropped in 11 regions from year-ago levels.

“Jobless rates were very steady throughout Michigan’s various areas in September,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Underlying this stability were offsetting forces. Students leave summer jobs in September to return to school, and jobs decline in tourism-related industries. This is offset in September with job gains at local and state schools and universities.”

As has become tradition, the lowest employment was in the Ann Arbor region at 4.6 percent. That rate held steady from August, but was above the 3.9 percent in September 2005.

The highest unemployment, 8.1 percent, was in the Flint region. That marked a drop from the 8.3 percent in August, but was up from 6.8 percent in September 2005.

Northwest Lower Michigan saw the greatest monthly increase in unemployment, up 0.3 percentage point to 6.1 percent. Five areas, Flint, Holland-Grand Haven (5.2 percent), Jackson (7.3 percent), Niles-Benton Harbor (6.8 percent), and the Upper Peninsula (5.8 percent), tied for the greatest monthly drop at 0.2 percentage point.

Jackson had the largest increase for the year, up 1.4 percentage points to 7.3 percent. Detroit-Warren-Livonia, at 7 percent, and Lansing, at 5.7 percent, had the smallest annual growth at .3 percentage point.

Lansing also gained the largest portion of jobs for the month, with employment growing 2.3 percent to 238,500. Northwest Lower Michigan lost the greatest portion, with employment dropping 3.9 percent to 153,300.

For the year, Jackson lost the greatest proportion of jobs, down 1.9 percent to 73,600, while Grand Rapids and the Upper Peninsula gained the largest portion, up 0.8 percent to 390,100 and 155,600 respectively.

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