IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate was unchanged in March, remaining at 6.5%, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology Management & Budget.

Dickinson County’s not seasonally adjusted rate of 5.2% compared to 5.1% in February and 5% in March 2020. Iron County’s jobless rate of 6.8% in March was also nearly unchanged from February, when it was 6.7%, but down slightly from 7.1% a year ago.

“Michigan regional jobless rates displayed little change in March,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

The Michigan jobless rate of 5.2% in March was up from 5.1% in February and 4.5% a year ago.

Over the year, jobless rates rose in 15 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market regions, with a median increase of 1.8 percentage points. The U.P. rate, however, was up by just 0.3 percentage points from March 2020.

The region’s civilian labor force totaled 131,400 workers, down by 2,500 from a year ago. There were 8,500 workers unemployed in March, which was 200 more than a year ago.

Statewide, nonfarm jobs fell by 284,000 over the year, or 6.5%, with the largest reduction in leisure and hospitality, Rourke said.

Dickinson County showed a civilian labor force of 11,966 in March, including 628 looking for work. Iron County’s labor force totaled 4,834, with 330 unemployed.

Menominee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the U.P. at 4.7%, followed by Dickinson’s rate of 5.2%. Mackinac County had the highest rate in the state at 16.2%.

MARCH 2021 UNEMPLOYMENT

COUNTY ………………… RATE

Menominee ………… 4.7%

Dickinson ………… 5.2%

Houghton …………… 5.4%

Gogebic …………… 5.6%

Marquette ………… 5.9%

Delta …………………… 6.4%

Iron ……………………… 6.8%

Keweenaw …………… 7.2%

Chippewa …………… 7.3%

Luce ……………………… 7.6%

Ontonagon ………… 7.8%

Baraga ………………… 8.0%

Alger …………………… 8.8%

Schoolcraft …… 8.9%

Mackinac ………… 16.2%

U.P. ……………………… 6.5%

Michigan …………… 5.2%

U.S ………………………… 6.0%