Michigan's unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent in August, a month that traditionally sees a decline in joblessness as auto workers return to work from the summer factory shutdowns in July, according to monthly data released Wednesday. This time, the tick upward is the start of a new round of climbing unemployment rates that will continue until late 2008, economists say.

Dick DeVos has pledged to bring needed change to Michigan. The solutions to Michigan's problems cannot be found in Washington, or in other states, or in other parts of the world. The solutions to Michigan's problems are right here at home. See More of the Plan.

The national unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent in September. Michigan's highest-in-the-nation unemployment rate is 7.1 percent, over 50 percent higher than the national rate. When Governor Granholm took office, Michigan's unemployment rate was 8 percent higher than the national rate.

--Bureau of Labor Statistics

Michigan has lost 35,500 jobs in 2006.

--Bureau of Labor Statistics