IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula’s unemployment rate climbed slightly in June even as an estimated 500 jobs were added in the region, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

The June unemployment rate of 5.5% compared to 5.2% in May. The region’s civilian labor force in June totaled 135,000 workers, including 7,400 unemployed. That compared to 6,900 people out of work among a labor force of 134,000 in May.

“Most of Michigan’s regional jobless rates saw typical June increases,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. “June nonfarm jobs increased throughout the state as seasonal hiring continued across multiple industries.”

Michigan’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 4.8%, up from 4.6% in May. The state’s civilian labor force grew by 0.4% over the same period.

Dickinson County’s jobless rate of 4.4% in June was up from 3.9% in May and down from 5.3% a year ago. The county showed a civilian labor force of 12,480 in June, including 554 unemployed. That compared to 489 unemployed among a labor force of 12,488 in May.

Iron County’s June unemployment rate of 5.6% was up from 5.2% in May and down from a June 2021 rate of 6.4%. The labor force in June numbered 5,092, with 283 looking for work. In May, the labor force totaled 5,005, including 262 unemployed.

Jobless rates fell in all 17 Michigan labor market areas over the year, with a median decline of 1.4 percentage points, Rourke said. In the Upper Peninsula, the jobless rate decline from a year ago was 0.6 percentage points, while the statewide decrease was 2.0 percentage points.

Unemployment has decreased in all 83 Michigan counties since June 2021, but 69 counties showed jobless rate advances between May and June 2022. Employment gains occurred in most major industry sectors in June, but the exceptions were government, education and health services, Rourke said.

Mackinac County had the lowest June jobless rate in the U.P. at 3.5%, followed by Dickinson County’s 4.4% rate and Menominee County’s 4.6% rate. The highest unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula was in Ontonagon County at 7.9%, followed by Baraga County, 7.7%.

The U.S. jobless rate of 3.6% in June was unchanged from May.

JUNE 2022 UNEMPLOYMENT

COUNTY …………………RATE

Mackinac ……………..3.5%

Dickinson …………….4.4%

Menominee …………..4.6%

Marquette …………… 5.3%

Gogebic ………………..5.4%

Houghton ……………..5.4%

Iron ……………………..5.6%

Delta ……………………5.7%

Chippewa ………………6.3%

Luce …………………….6.3%

Keweenaw ……………..6.8%

Schoolcraft ……….7.1%

Alger ……………………7.2%

Baraga ………………….7.7%

Ontonagon ……………7.9%

U.P. ……………………..5.5%

Michigan ……………….4.8%

U.S. ……………………..3.6%