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UP unemployment down in April

IRON MOUNTAIN — Unemployment rates dropped in all 15 Upper Peninsula counties in April, with Dickinson County again having the region’s lowest jobless rate at just a tick above 4 percent, state officials said.

The region’s rate overall fell by 1.5 points to 5.8 percent, compared with 7.8 percent at the same time a year ago, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

“This season rate cut outpaced the 1.1 percent decline statewide in April,” said Bruce Weaver, an analyst in Detroit. “The U.P.’s monthly rate decrease was primarily due to fewer people active in the labor market, as the employment levels were essential unchanged for the month.”

Dickinson County’s jobless rate dropped 1.1 percent from 5.2 in March to 4.1 in April, and is down a significant 1.3 percent from 5.4 percent in April 2016.

Dickinson County’s civilian labor force in April totaled 12,525, with 12,000 employed and 500 unemployed.

Iron County’s unemployment rate fell even more, down 1.8 percent from 7.9 percent in March to 6.1 in April. The rate a year ago was 7.8 percent.

Iron County had a total civilian labor force in April of 5,175 with 4,850 employed and 325 unemployed.

Overall, declines across in the U.P. from March to April ranged from 8 percent in Mackinac County to .3 percent in Gogebic County.

Areas that posted job gains above the regional and statewide averages for the month included Schoolcraft County, with an unemployment rate down by 3.4 percent; Chippewa County, down by 1.9 percent; Iron County, down by 1.8 percent; and Delta County, down by 1.7 percent.

Below-average unemployment rates also were reported in Menominee County at 4.4 percent, Marquette at 4.7 percent and Delta and Houghton counties, both recording 5.3 percent.

Mackinac County, reliant on a seasonal tourism-related industry, continues to have the state’s highest jobless rate at 12.5 percent but that was down from 20.6 only a month earlier.

“Payroll jobs are usually relatively flat in April although job gains can occur in the construction and retail trade sectors,” Weaver said.

Yet the U.P. rate of 5.8 percent in April remains higher than the state rate of 3.7 percent and the national rate of 4.1 percent.

Over the year, the jobless rate in the U.P. has fallen by 1.3 percent. This was a larger decrease than the .8 percent reduction statewide and the .6 percent decline nationally during the same period in 2016.

During the past year, the jobless rate also dropped in all 15 U.P. counties — ranging from 2.3 percent in Schoolcraft County to .9 percent in Alger County.

Linda Lobeck can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 29 or llobeck@ironmountaindailynews.com.

April unemployment rates in the UP

COUNTY RATE

Dickinson 4.1 percent

Menominee 4.4 percent

Marquette 4.7 percent

Houghton 5.3 percent

Delta 5.3 percent

Iron 6.1 percent

Gogebic 6.7 percent

Luce 6.8 percent

Chippewa 7.0 percent

Baraga 7.6 percent

Schoolcraft 7.9 percent

Alger 9.1 percent

Keweenaw 9.1 percent

Ontonagon 9.2 percent

Mackinac 12.5 percent

U.P. rate 5.8 percent

Michigan 3.7 percent

U.S. rate 4.1 percent

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