IRON MOUNTAIN — Upper Peninsula jobless rates rose in December, staying slightly above pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

The U.P.’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.4% in December was up from 4.9% in November. It was higher than the 5.2% rate reported in pre-pandemic December 2019 but down from 5.6% in December 2018.

“Regional labor market conditions continued to show evidence of recovery in 2021,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “However, despite employment advances over the past year, jobless rates still remained above pre-pandemic levels.”

Jobless rates declined in 10 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas during December and increased seasonally in northern regions of the state, including the Upper Peninsula, Rourke said.

Michigan’s unemployment rate in December was 4.4%, compared with 4.2% in November and 8.3% a year ago. The December 2019 rate was 3.4%, while the December 2018 rate was 3.9%.

Workforce levels fell in all 17 labor market areas over the year, Rourke said, even as total payroll jobs rose by 5.5%.

Delta County’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. The jobless rate in Schoolcraft County was 7.5 percent.

Menominee County had the Upper Peninsula’s lowest jobless rate in December at 3.8%, followed by Dickinson County’s 4.2% rate and Houghton County at 4.3%.

The highest rate was 13% in Mackinac County, followed by Alger County at 8.2%.

County Rate

Menominee – 3.8%

Dickinson – 4.2%

Houghton -4.3%

Gogebic – 4.7%

Marquette – 4.7%

Delta – 5.4%

Iron – 5.7%

Chippewa – 6.5%

Luce – 6.7%

Keweenaw – 6.9%

Ontonagon – 6.9%

Baraga – 7.5%

Schoolcraft – 7.5%

Alger – 8.2%

Mackinac – 13%

U.P. – 5.4%

Michigan – 4.4%

U.S – 3.9%