IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula’s jobless rate of 4.3% in September was down from 4.8% in August and the same as a year ago, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

The estimated civilian labor force was up by 500 workers from last year, reaching 135,900, a gain of 3.2%. Statewide, the labor force grew by just 1.6% over the year.

The Michigan jobless rate in September was 3.7%, compared with 4% in August and 5.2% in September 2021.

“Payroll jobs advanced largely due to local schools and colleges re-opening for the fall,” said Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

All but four of Michigan’s 83 counties exhibited unemployment rate reductions between August and September. Jobless rates fell in 67 counties since September 2021.

Dickinson County’s September jobless rate of 3.8% was down slightly from 4% in August and 3.9% a year ago. The civilian labor force totaled 12,174, including 464 unemployed. A year ago, there were 12,143 workers, with 471 jobless.

The unemployment rate in Iron County in September was 4.7%, down from 4.9% in August but up from 4.5% in September 2021.

The labor force numbered 4,870 in Iron County in September, including 231 looking for work. The September 2021 total was 4,768 workers, including 215 jobless.

Unemployment rates fell in 16 of Michigan’s 17 labor market areas over the year, with a median decrease of 0.8 percentage points, Rourke said. The Upper Peninsula was the only area that did not have a jobless rate decrease over the year.

The lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in September was 2.8% in Mackinac County, followed by Menominee County at 3.7%.

The region’s highest rate was 6.2% in Ontonagon County, with Baraga second-highest at 6%.

The U.S. seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in September was 3.5%, compared with 3.7% in August and 4.7% a year ago. The pre-pandemic unemployment rate in the U.S. in September 2019 was also 3.5%.

September 2022 unemployment

COUNTY ……………… RATE

Mackinac ……………… 2.8%

Menominee …………… 3.7%

Dickinson …………… 3.8%

Houghton ……………… 4.0%

Marquette …………… 4.2%

Gogebic ……………… 4.3%

Delta …………………… 4.4%

Chippewa …………… 4.6%

Iron …………………… 4.7%

Luce …………………… 5.0%

Keweenaw …………… 5.2%

Alger ………………… 5.7%

Schoolcraft ……… 5.8%

Baraga ……………… 6.0%

Ontonagon ………… 6.2%

U.P. ………………… 4.3%

Michigan …………… 3.7%

U.S. ………………… 3.5%