IRON MOUNTAIN — The jobless rate in the Upper Peninsula dropped to 5.1% in July, nearly equal to the state rate of 5% and slightly below the U.S. rate of 5.4%, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

“July was characterized by minimal changes in private payroll job levels, seasonal job reductions in local schools, and modest declines in unemployment rates in most major Michigan regions,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

Jobless rates in both the state and the U.P. were down by 0.3 percentage points from June.

Dickinson County’s unemployment rate of 4.6% in July was down from 4.8% in June and 6.4% a year ago. The county’s civilian labor force totaled 12,097, including 561 unemployed.

The jobless rate in Iron County in July was 5.1%, which was down from 5.7% in June and 7.1% in July 2020. The labor force totaled 4,961 with 252 out of work.

Unemployment rates receded in all 17 Michigan labor market areas since July 2020, with a median decrease of 2.5 percentage points, Rourke said. The U.P. rate of 5.1% in July was down from 7.3% a year ago, a decline of 2.2 percentage points.

Mackinac County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in July at 2.9%, followed by Menominee County at 4.3%. Dickinson’s rate of 4.6% was the third-lowest.

The highest jobless rate in the U.P. in July was 6.9% in Schoolcraft County, slightly above Ontonagon County’s rate of 6.8%.

The motor vehicle manufacturing sector in the Detroit metro area had a temporary layoff of 7,000 jobs due to the continuing impact of the nationwide shortage of semiconductors, Rourke noted.

July 2021 unemployment:

COUNTY ………………RATE

Mackinac …………… 2.9%

Menominee ………… 4.3%

Dickinson ………… ..4.6%

Marquette ………… 4.9%

Gogebic …………….5.0%

Delta ………………..5.1%

Houghton ………….5.1%

Iron ………………….5.1%

Luce …………………5.6%

Chippewa …………..5.8%

Keweenaw ………….6.1%

Baraga ……………….6.5%

Alger …………………6.6%

Ontonagon …………6.8%

Schoolcraft …………6.9%

U.P. ………………….5.1%

Michigan …………… 5.0%

U.S …………………..5.4%