The Grand Rapids - Wyoming MSA employment levels and unemployment rates continued to improve tremendously, putting Grand Rapids in a league of metro areas in the U.S. that can only be described as "boom towns" like Austin, Raleigh and Denver. November's labor force in the area grew at a healthy 4.3% over this time last year, while the unemployment rate plunged to 3.7%, or about 15,000 people unemployed (the lowest level since before 9/11/2001).
Only Ann Arbor in Michigan had a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%. Holland stood at 3.8%, Muskegon at 5.0%, and Lansing - East Lansing at 4.0%.
With mortgage rates at historic lows, U.S. auto sales reaching decade highs, and gasoline prices in Grand Rapids as one of the cheapest in the U.S., 2015 bodes well for those of us living in one of the fastest growing economies in the country. How times change.
Happy New Year!
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
No comments:
Post a Comment