In a state with the nation's highest jobless rate, landscaping companies in Michigan are finding some job applicants are rejecting work offers so they can continue collecting unemployment benefits.It is unclear whether this trend is affecting other seasonal industries. But the fact that some seasonal landscaping workers choose to stay home and collect a check from the state, rather than work outside for a full week and spend money for gas, taxes and other expenses, raises questions about whether extended unemployment benefits give the jobless an incentive to avoid work.

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Unemployment Rate Breakdown for April 2010

Adult Men 10.1 %
Adult Women 8.2 %
Teenagers 25.4 %
Whites 9.0 %
Blacks 16.5 %
Hispanics 12.5 %
Asians 6.8 %



April 2010

U-1
Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force 5.8%


U-2
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force 6.0%


U-3
Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate) 9.9%


U-4
Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers 10.6%


U-5
Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other persons marginally attached to the labor force, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force 11.3%


U-6
Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force 17.1%