IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate dipped to 7.4% in April, down from 8.1% in March but higher than the 6.3% rate in April 2024, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

Not seasonally adjusted jobless rates fell in all 18 Michigan labor market areas over the month, said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

“All regional labor markets in Michigan experienced typical springtime additions of payroll jobs and declining unemployment rates in April,” Rourke said. “However, unemployment levels are still up over the year across all regions.”

The U.P. showed an estimated civilian labor force of 142,600 in April. There were 10,500 workers unemployed, which was 1,200 fewer than in March but 1,700 more than a year ago. The labor force, meanwhile, dropped by 1,200 workers over the month but grew by 2,300 workers over the year.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was steady over the month, staying at 5.5%, DTMB data showed. The national jobless rate was also stable at 4.2%.

Over the year, the Michigan jobless rate rose by 1.1 percentage points while the national unemployment rate advanced by 0.3 percentage points.

Michigan’s private education and health services sector exhibited the largest numerical employment gains over the year, up by 21,000 jobs. Manufacturing employment rose by 2,000 in April but remained down 11,000 jobs since April 2024, a decline of 1.8%.

Regional jobless rates in Michigan ranged from 3.7% to 9.2% in April, with a median decline of 0.6 percentage points over the month. All of the state’s labor market areas displayed unemployment rate gains over the year, with a median rate increase of 1.1 percentage points.

Delta County’s jobless rate was 7 percent. It was 9>4 percent in Schoolcraft County.

Menominee County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in April at 5.2%, followed by Dickinson County’s 5.5% rate, then Houghton County at 5.9% and Marquette County, 6.3%.

Mackinac County had the highest jobless rate in the U.P. and the state at 17.9%, down from 22% in March.

Statewide, 78 of Michigan’s 83 counties had unemployment rate reductions over the month, with a median decrease of 0.7 percentage points. Jobless rates rose in every county over the year.

APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT

Menominee – 5.2%

Dickinson – 5.5%

Houghton – 5.9%

Marquette – 6.3%

Gogebic – 6.8%

Delta – 7.0%

Keweenaw – 8.3%

Chippewa – 8.4%

Baraga – 8.6%

Ontonagon – 9.1%

Schoolcraft – 9.4%

Iron – 9.5%

Luce – 10.7%

Alger – 11.4%

Mackinac – 17.9%

U.P. = 7.4%

Michigan – 4.7%