IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate dropped to 4.2% in September, down from 4.8% in August, with part of the decline due to fewer people in the labor force.

The U.P. showed a civilian labor force of 137,500 in September, which was 1,200 fewer than in August, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology Management & Budget. There were 5,800 unemployed in September, compared with 6,600 in August.

A year ago, when the U.P. jobless rate was 4.4%, the labor force numbered 135,400, including 6,000 unemployed.

“Michigan regional labor markets displayed typical seasonal jobless rate declines,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

Regional not seasonally adjusted jobless rates in the state ranged from 3.4% to 4.9% in September, with a median rate decrease of 0.4 percentage points over the month.

The statewide jobless rate of 3.9% in September was down from 4.2% in August but up a tick from 3.8% a year ago. The labor force grew by 4% over the year, despite a 0.7% decline over the month.

“(Employment) decreases across most major industries in the state were partially offset by a large seasonal increase in the government sector,” Rourke said.

Dickinson County’s September jobless rate of 3.8% was down from 3.9% in August and 4% a year ago. The labor force numbered 12,230 in September, with 462 looking for work. A year ago, there were 12,211 workers, including 489 unemployed.

In Iron County, the September jobless rate of 4.7% was down from 5% in August while the September 2022 rate was also 5%. Iron County’s labor force of 4,637 in September included 216 out of work. A year ago, the labor force totaled 4,681, with 236 jobless.

Mackinac County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in September at 3.2%, followed by Dickinson and Menominee counties at 3.8%. Marquette County trailed only slightly at 4%.

Schoolcraft and Ontonagon counties had the highest jobless rates in the region at 5.6%.

Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties had jobless rate declines between August and September. Unemployment rates fell in 54 counties over the year.

The U.S. jobless rate of 3.8% in September was unchanged from August but up from 3.5% a year ago.