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IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Upper Peninsula jobless rate dropped to 4.2% in September, down from 4.8% in August, with part of the decline due to fewer people in the labor force.
The U.P. showed a civilian labor force of 137,500 in September, which was 1,200 fewer than in August, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology Management & Budget. There were 5,800 unemployed in September, compared with 6,600 in August.
A year ago, when the U.P. jobless rate was 4.4%, the labor force numbered 135,400, including 6,000 unemployed.
"Michigan regional labor markets displayed typical seasonal jobless rate declines," said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.
Regional not seasonally adjusted jobless rates in the state ranged from 3.4% to 4.9% in September, with a median rate decrease of 0.4 percentage points over the month.
The statewide jobless rate of 3.9% in September was down from 4.2% in August but up a tick from 3.8% a year ago. The labor force grew by 4% over the year, despite a 0.7% decline over the month.
"(Employment) decreases across most major industries in the state were partially offset by a large seasonal increase in the government sector," Rourke said.
Delta County's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.
Mackinac County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in September at 3.2%, followed by Dickinson and Menominee counties at 3.8%. Marquette County trailed only slightly at 4%.
Schoolcraft and Ontonagon counties had the highest jobless rates in the region at 5.6%.
Seventy-eight of Michigan's 83 counties had jobless rate declines between August and September. Unemployment rates fell in 54 counties over the year.
The U.S. jobless rate of 3.8% in September was unchanged from August but up from 3.5% a year ago.
Unemployment rates:
Mackinac County – 3.2 percent
Dickinson County – 3.8 percent
Menominee County – 3.8 percent
Marquette County – 4 percent
Chippewa County – 4.3 percent
Delta County – 4.3 percent
Gogebic County – 4.3 percent
Houghton County – 4.3 percent
Keweenaw County – 4.4 percent
Iron County – 4.7 percent
Luce County – 4.8 percent
Alger County 5 percent
Baraga County – 5 percent
Ontonagon County – 5.6 percent
Schoolcraft County – 5.6 percent
Upper Peninsula – 4.2 percent
Michigan – 3.9 percent
U.S. – 3.8 percent