IRON MOUNTAIN — Jobless rates in the Upper Peninsula averaged 5.3% in 2019, down slightly from the 2018 rate of 5.5%, according to preliminary data from the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

“This was 1.3 percentage points above the Michigan average 2019 rate of 4%,” said Jeffrey Aula, economic analyst. The national rate averaged 3.7%.

In December, the U.P. unemployment rate rose by 1.4 percentage points to 5.6%, which compared with a state rate of 3.5% and a national rate of 3.4%.

“Tourism-related employment generally declines in the region in December,” Aula noted.

All of the Upper Peninsula counties registered seasonal unemployment rate increases in December, but 11 of the 15 counties had jobless rate reductions since December 2018.

Dickinson, Houghton and Marquette counties led the region with the lowest December rates of 4.3%. Dickinson’s rate, however, was up by 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The largest over-the-year rate reduction occurred in Keweenaw County, falling from 9.3% to 7.7%. Menominee County had the biggest increase, climbing from 4.1% to 5%.

Iron County’s December jobless rate of 5.6% was up by 1.8 percentage points from November, but down slightly from 6% in December 2018. The county showed a civilian labor force of 5,175, including 300 unemployed.

Dickinson County’s labor force numbered 12,500, with 550 looking for work. The county’s December jobless rate was up by 0.8 percentage points from November.

“Total employment in the Upper Peninsula fell by about 1,500 in December,” Aula said. Seasonal job decreases were concentrated in construction as well as tourism, he added.

The highest unemployment rate in Michigan was recorded in Mackinac County at 17%. Alger County had the second-highest rate in the U.P. at 8.6%.

COUNTY RATE

Alger……………….8.6%

Baraga…………….6.8%

Chippewa…………6.4%

Delta……………….6.2%

Dickinson…………4.3%

Gogebic…………..4.8%

Houghton………..4.3%

Iron…………………5.6%

Keweenaw………7.7%

Luce………………6.8%

Mackinac………17.0%

Marquette……….4.3%

Menominee…….5.0%

Ontonagon……..7.6%

Schoolcraft……..7.5%

U.P………………..5.6%

Michigan………..3.5%

U.S………………..3.4%