IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate dipped to 5.8% in August, down from 6.6% in July and 5.9% a year ago, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

The region’s civilian labor force was estimated at 145,000, up by 1,100 for the year. There were 8,400 workers unemployed, down by 1,300 over the month but unchanged from August 2024, DTMB figures showed.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 5.2%, which compared with a rate of 5.3% in July and 5.4% a year ago.

“Michigan’s unemployment rate decline in August was primarily due to fewer people in the workforce,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. “While unemployment rates decreased typically throughout all regions in August, they remain elevated through most areas over the year,”

The construction and manufacturing sectors in Michigan had the largest over-the-month employment decreases in August, with jobs receding by 2,000 in each industry. Meanwhile, employment within private education and health services rose for the third straight month, with jobs increasing by 9,000 since May, DTMB reported.

Dickinson County’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.9% in August was down from 6.1% in July and 5.0% a year ago. The labor force numbered 12,850 in August, including 627 looking for work. A year ago, there were 647 jobless in a workforce of 12,919.

The August jobless rate of 6.9% in Iron County was down from 7.9% in July but the same as in August 2024. The labor force in August was pegged at 4,498, including 311 jobless. A year ago, there were 320 unemployed in a workforce of 4,611.

Mackinac County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in August at 3.6%, followed by Menominee County at 4.7%. The highest rate in the region was 7.3% in Ontonagon County.

All 83 Michigan counties demonstrated unemployment rate declines over the month. Jobless rates rose in 50 counties over the year.

August data from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development showed a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in Florence County, down from 3.4% in July and 3.3% a year ago. Marinette County’s jobless rate of 4.1% was the same as July and up from 3.6% in August 2024.

The national jobless rate of 4.3% in August was up by one-tenth of a percentage point from both July and a year ago.

AUGUST UNEMPLOYMENT

County Rate

Mackinac — 3.6

Menominee — 4.7

Dickinson — 4.9

Keweenaw — 5.4

Marquette — 5.5

Houghton — 5.9

Alger — 6.1

Delta — 6.1

Gogebic — 6.3

Chippewa — 6.7

Iron — 6.9

Schoolcraft — 6.9

Baraga — 7.1

Luce — 7.2

Ontonagon — 7.3

U.P. — 5.8

Michigan — 5.0

* Rates are not seasonally adjusted