IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate climbed to 7% in December, up a full two percentage points from a year ago, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

The U.P.’s December rate was the highest in the region since March 2021, when it was 7.3%.

The civilian labor force in the region grew by an estimated 2,900 workers over the year, but the number of employed workers stayed the same — 129,100. The number of jobless grew by 2,900 over the year to reach 9,700 in December, preliminary figures show.

In November, the U.P.’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate had stood at 5.3%, with 132,000 workers employed and 7,400 jobless.

“Michigan regional unemployment gains were primarily driven by employment reductions across labor market areas over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “Preliminary annual average regional jobless rates also rose over the year.”

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point in December, to 5%. The national unemployment rate receded by one-tenth of percentage point over the month, to 4.1%.

Over the year, the national jobless rate advanced by 0.3 percentage points, while the statewide rate increased by 0.9 percentage points.

The largest over-the-year job gains in Michigan occurred in construction, up by 7.2%, or 14,000 jobs; government, up by 3%, or

(Continued on page 3-A)18,000 jobs; and private education and health services, up by 1.7%, or 12,000 jobs.

Manufacturing fell by 1.8% over the year, a loss of 11,000 jobs, while retail trade was down 1.2%, a decline of 6,000 jobs.

Michigan’s preliminary annual average unemployment rate in 2024 was 4.5%, up from 3.9% in 2023. The U.P.’s preliminary annual average unemployment rate in 2024 was 5.5%, up from 5.2% in 2023.

“After three consecutive years of jobless rate declines, Michigan’s annual average unemployment rate rose during 2024,” Rourke noted. “However, the state’s annual average labor force level and payroll jobs total both increased over the year.”

Statewide, the annual average workforce total in 2024 increased by 41,000, or 0.8% over the year.

Dickinson County’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.7% in December was up from 4.8% in November and 3.6% a year ago. The civilian labor force numbered 12,076 in December, including 689 jobless. A year ago, the labor force was pegged at 12,305, with 440 looking for work.

Iron County’s December jobless rate of 7.8% compared with a rate of 5.9% in November and 5.5% in December 2023. The labor force totaled 4,747 in December, down from 4,841 a year ago. There were 368 jobless in December, up from 267 in December 2023.

Houghton County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in December at 5.2%, followed by Menominee County at 5.4% and Marquette County at 5.5%. The U.P.’s Mackinac County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 17.9%.

Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties showed unemployment rate increases over the month and every county had a higher jobless rate than a year ago.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Florence County in December was 3.7%, which was up from 3.1% in November and 3.6% a year ago. Marinette County’s December jobless rate of 4% compared with 3.5% in November and 4.2% in December 2023.

DECEMBER 2024 JOBLESS RATES

Houghton ……………….5.2%

Menominee ……………5.4%

Marquette ………………5.5%

Dickinson ………………5.7%

Gogebic ………………..6.3%

Keweenaw ……………..7.0%

Delta ……………………..7.5%

Iron ……………………….7.8%

Chippewa ………………8.3%

Luce ……………………..8.4%

Ontonagon ……………..8.4%

Baraga ………………….8.7%

Schoolcraft ……………..9.3%

Alger …………………..11.2%

Mackinac………………..17.9%

U.P………………………7.0%

Michigan ……………….5.0%

*Rates are not seasonally adjusted