IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate fell to 5.7% in March, down from 6.6% in February and 7.4% a year ago, reflecting a statewide movement, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

“Michigan’s regional labor markets recorded positive trends over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “March was characterized by seasonal jobless rate reductions across all regions and payroll job gains in most metro areas.”

Jobless rates moved down in all 83 Michigan counties over the month, Rourke said. Sectors with the largest March job additions included manufacturing and leisure and hospitality.

Dickinson County’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 4.1%, down from 4.8% in February and 5.9% in March 2021. That compared with a state jobless rate of 4.5% in March, which was down from 5.3% in February and 6.6% a year ago.

Dickinson County’s civilian workforce in March numbered 12,248, including 507 unemployed. A year ago, the county’s workforce totaled 11,930, with 700 jobless.

Iron County’s unemployment rate fell from 6.8% in February to 5.7% in March. The rate a year ago was 7.9%.

The labor force totaled 4,862 in March, with 277 unemployed. In March 2021, Iron County’s workforce numbered 4,661, including 366 jobless.

“Jobless rates moved down in all major Michigan regions since March 2021, with a notable median decline of 2.1 percentage points,” Rourke said.

Menominee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the U.P. in March at 4.0%, followed closely by Dickinson County’s 4.1% rate.

Mackinac County had the state’s highest jobless rate at 14.5%.

The U.S. jobless rate in March was 3.6%.

MARCH 2022 UNEMPLOYMENT

COUNTY …………………… RATE

Menominee …………… 4.0%

Dickinson …………… 4.1%

Houghton ……………… 4.6%

Gogebic ………………… 4.7%

Marquette …………… 4.9%

Keweenaw ……………… 5.5%

Iron ………………………… 5.7%

Delta ……………………… 5.9%

Luce ………………………… 6.2%

Chippewa ……………… 6.7%

Ontonagon …………… 6.8%

Baraga …………………… 7.7%

Alger ……………………… 7.8%

Schoolcraft ……… 8.9%

Mackinac …………… 14.5%

U.P. ………………………… 5.7%

Michigan ……………… 4.5%

U.S. ………………………… 3.6%