IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula’s jobless rate climbed to 6.6% in February, up from 6.3% in January but below the 7.5% rate reported a year ago, according to data from the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

“Most of Michigan’s regional labor markets displayed only minor shifts in unemployment in February,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

The state jobless rate was 5.3% in February, up from 5.1% in January and below the 6.8% rate in February 2021. Unemployment rates fell in all 17 of Michigan’s labor market areas over the year with a median decrease of 1.5 percentage points.

“Payroll jobs rose seasonally in government as classes resumed at area schools and universities, and a few metro areas were impacted by layoffs or recalls in the auto sector,” Rourke said.

Delta County’s unemployment rate was 7 percent. The jobless rate in Schoolcraft County was 10.3 percent.

Menominee County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in February at 4.4%, followed by Dickinson County’s rate of 4.8%. Mackinac County had the highest jobless rate in the state at 18.1%.

The U.S. jobless rate in February was 3.8%.

Unemployment rates in U.P. counties were:

Menominee – 4.4%

Dickinson – 4.8%

Houghton – 5.1%

Gogebic – 5.5%

Marquette – 5.7%

Keweenaw – 6.7%

Iron – 6.8%

Delta – 7.0%

Luce – 7.3%

Ontonagon – 7.5%

Chippewa – 8.0%

Alger – 9.0%

Baraga – 9.3%

Schoolcraft – 10.3%

Mackinac – 18.1%

U.P. – 6.6%

Michigan – 5.3%

U.S. – 3.8%