(Photo courtesy of Michigan.gov)

Michigan’s unemployment rate was up .2% in May to 8.5%. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget says it’s the first time that the state’s jobless rate has increased in the last year. The 8.5% unemployment rate is still a full two percentage points lower than it was in May of last year (10.6%). The Detroit Free Press and Mlive report the slight increase is a sign that the improving economy is encouraging more people to seek work.