IRON MOUNTAIN — Iron County’s jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 3.8% in November, the only county in the Upper Peninsula to see a decline, according to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

The U.P. unemployment rate of 4.2% — slightly higher than the rate a year ago of 4.1% — was up by 0.6 percentage points since October.

“The monthly changes in U.P. county employment and unemployment were fairly typical in November,” said Jeffrey Aula, economic analyst. “The number of unemployed moved up over the month as the decline in seasonal jobs began.”

Menominee County, which had the U.P.’s lowest jobless rate at 3%, reported no change since October. Dickinson County had the second-lowest rate at 3.5%, up by 0.3 percentage points.

“Payroll jobs in the Upper Peninsula tend to contract during November,” Aula said. “The reductions are generally concentrated in seasonal industries such as construction, and sectors related to the recreation and tourism industries, including accommodation and food services.”

Thirteen of the U.P.’s 15 counties reported higher jobless rates in November, with the biggest increase of 6.8 percentage points coming in Mackinac County, where the rate soared from 2.9% to 9.7%.

“The sharp rate advance in Mackinac County was due to typical seasonal reductions in tourism-related jobs,” Aula said.

The largest over-the-year rate increase in the U.P. occurred in Baraga County, climbing from 4.2% to 5.1%. Dickinson County’s over-the-year increase of 0.5 percentage points was second-highest in the region, followed by Delta at 0.4 percentage points, Alger at 0.2 and Marquette at 0.1.

Iron County’s jobless rate was the same as a year ago. The county had a civilian labor force of 5,100, including 200 looking for work. Dickinson County showed a civilian labor force of 12,425, with 425 unemployed.

The U.P.’s November 2019 jobless rate of 4.2% was above the state rate of 3.2% and the national rate of 3.3%.

November UP jobless rates

COUNTY RATE

Alger …………………. 6.8%

Baraga ………………. 5.1%

Chippewa ………….. 4.6%

Delta …………………. 4.3%

Dickinson …………… 3.5%

Gogebic …………….. 4.1%

Houghton …………… 3.6%

Iron …………………… 3.8%

Keweenaw ………… 6.1%

Luce ………………….. 5.6%

Mackinac …………… 9.7%

Marquette ………….. 3.6%

Menominee ……….. 3.0%

Ontonagon ………… 6.3%

Schoolcraft ………… 4.8%

U.P …………………… 4.2%

Michigan ……………. 3.2%

U.S …………………… 3.3%