IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate dipped to 5.4% in June, down from 5.8% in May and 10.3% a year ago, according to data from the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

Unemployment rates were down slightly in Dickinson and Iron counties as well, even as the size of the labor force grew.

“The largest percent labor force advance in June was seasonal and occurred in the Upper Peninsula,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

The U.P. showed a civilian labor force of 134,800 in June, which was up by 2,600, or 2%, since May. That total, however, was down by 2.8% compared to June 2020.

Dickinson County’s unemployment rate of 4.8% in June compared to a May rate of 5% and 8.4% in June 2020.

The county’s civilian labor force numbered 12,225 in June, including 587 who were unemployed. In May, the work force totaled 12,160, with 610 unemployed. In June 2020, Dickinson’s labor force totaled 12,715, including 1,070 unemployed.

Iron County showed a similar trend. Its June jobless rate of 5.7% was down from 6% in May and 8.9% a year ago. Its labor force totaled 4,963 last month, with 281 out of work. That compares with 4,867 in May, including 292 unemployed.

In June 2020, Iron County’s labor force numbered 5,212, including 463 jobless.

“Unemployment rates fell sharply in all 17 of Michigan’s major labor market regions over the year, as June 2020 rates were high due to pandemic-related job cuts,” Rourke said. Regional jobless rates, however, remained above pre-pandemic June 2019 levels across the state, with a median rate hike of 1.6 percentage points, he said.

Dickinson County’s jobless rate in June 2019 was 4.3%, while Iron’s was 5.4%.

Mackinac County had the U.P’s lowest jobless rate in June at 3.4%. That was followed by Menominee County at 4.4% and Dickinson’s rate of 4.8%.

Ontonagon County had the highest jobless rate in the region at 8%.

Michigan’s not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in June, which compared with 5.2% in May and 14.2% a year ago.

JUNE 2021 UNEMPLOYMENT

COUNTY ………………… RATE

Mackinac …………… 3.4%

Menominee ………… 4.4%

Dickinson ………… 4.8%

Gogebic ……………… 5.2%

Marquette ………… 5.2%

Houghton …………… 5.3%

Delta …………………… 5.7%

Iron ……………………… 5.7%

Chippewa …………… 5.9%

Keweenaw …………… 6.7%

Luce ……………………… 6.8%

Baraga ………………… 7.2%

Schoolcraft …… 7.4%

Alger …………………… 7.7%

Ontonagon ………… 8.0%

U.P. ……………………… 5.4%

Michigan …………… 5.3%

U.S ………………………… 5.9%