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Little change in U.P. jobless rates in October

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate held steady at 4.3% in October, reflecting a statewide trend, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

Michigan’s unemployment rate remained at 3.7%, down from 4.5% a year ago. The U.P’s rate, however, was up by 0.4 percentage points from October 2021.

“Michigan regional labor markets displayed little change during October,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “Payroll jobs advanced modestly in most metro areas over the month. Large employment increases in industries such as government and professional and business services were partially offset by minor decreases across multiple other sectors.”

Dickinson County’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.6% in October, down from 3.8% in September but up from 3.3% in October 2021.

The county showed a civilian labor force in October of 12,083, including 441 unemployed. A year ago, the labor force had numbered 12,185, with 402 out of work.

The unemployment rate in Iron County in October was 4.9%, up from 4.7% in September and a percentage point higher than the 3.9% rate reported in October 2021.

Iron County’s labor force was listed at 4,769 workers in October, including 236 unemployed. October 2021 had 184 workers unemployed among a labor force of 4,729.

The U.P.’s civilian labor force was estimated at 133,300 in October, down by 2,600 workers from September but up by 2,100 from a year ago. The U.P. jobless rate in October 2021 was 3.9%.

Across the state, 31 counties saw jobless rates increases between September and October, 23 exhibited rate declines and 29 stayed the same, Rourke said. Jobless rates were up in 49 of Michigan’s 83 counties from a year ago, he added.

Mackinac County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in October at 3.4%, followed by Dickinson and Menominee at 3.6% and Houghton at 3.8%.

The region’s highest unemployment rate was 7% in Alger County, up from 5.7% in September.

The U.S. not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 3.7%, up from 3.5% in September but down from 4.6% a year ago.

October 2022 unemployment

COUNTY/RATE

Mackinac………………. 3.4%

Dickinson….. …………… 3.6%

Menominee.. …………… 3.6%

Houghton………………. 3.8%

Marquette…………… 4.2%

Delta …………………… 4.3%

Gogebic ………………… 4.4%

Chippewa………………. 4.6%

Luce……………………. 4.8%

Iron…………………….. 4.9%

Keweenaw ……………… 5.1%

Schoolcraft ………………. 5.6%

Baraga ………………… 5.9%

Ontonagon ……………… 6.2%

Alger …………………… 7.0%

U.P. ……………………… 4.3%

Michigan………………. 3.7%

U.S. …………………….. 3.7%

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