IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County’s jobless rate rose slightly in February but at 4.1% it was the lowest in the Upper Peninsula and a notch below the statewide rate of 4.2%, according to data released by the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

The Upper Peninsula rate of 6.2% was up by 0.6 percentage points from January and down from 6.9% a year ago.

“Michigan regional labor markets displayed jobless rate increases typical for February,” said Wayne Rourke, the center’s labor market information director. Labor force levels remained relatively stable, he added.

The U.P.’s civilian labor force was estimated at 138,700 in February, up by 2,100 from January and 2,200 from a year ago. There were 8,500 workers unemployed last month, compared with 7,600 in January and 9,500 in February 2023.

Over the year, most Michigan regions observed jobless rate declines, with a median rate reduction of 0.5 percentage points.

Michigan’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.2% was up from 4% in January but down from 4.4% a year ago. The state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 3.9% matched the U.S. unemployment rate during February, Rourke noted.

Over the year, the U.S. unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points, while Michigan’s seasonally adjusted rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point.

Employment gains over the month were observed in statewide industries such as government and private education and health services, Rourke said.

Dickinson County’s February jobless rate was up by 0.3 percentage points from January, but down by 0.4 percentage points from February 2023. The civilian labor force was pegged at 12,297 in February, including 501 unemployed. A year ago, there were 12,569 workers, with 567 looking for jobs.

In Iron County, February’s jobless rate of 7.1% was up from 6.2% in January but down from 7.8% in February 2023. The labor force numbered 4,829 in February, with 341 out of work. The labor force had totaled 4,843 a year ago, including 378 unemployed.

Menominee County had the second-lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in February at 4.2%. That rate was up from 3.6% in January and down from 4.5% a year ago.

Eighty-one of Michigan’s 83 counties demonstrated unemployment rate increases over the month, with a median advance of 0.4 percentage points. Over the year, unemployment receded in 75 counties.

The highest jobless rate in the U.P. and the state in February was in Mackinac County at 18.9%.

COUNTY ……………………… RATE

Dickinson ……………… 4.1%

Menominee ……………… 4.2%

Houghton ………………… 4.5%

Marquette ……………… 4.9%

Gogebic …………………… 5.1%

Keweenaw ………………… 5.6%

Delta ………………………… 6.2%

Luce …………………………… 7.0%

Iron …………………………… 7.1%

Baraga ……………………… 7.2%

Ontonagon ……………… 7.3%

Chippewa ………………… 7.6%

Alger ………………………… 9.7%

Schoolcraft ……… 10.3%

Mackinac ……………… 18.9%

U.P. …………………………… 6.2%

Michigan ………………… 4.2%

U.S. …………………………… 3.9%