The Upper Peninsula’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell to 6.6% in February, down from 7.1% in January and 8% in February 2025, according to preliminary data released by the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

“Michigan regional jobless rate declines were largely influenced by workforce decreases in February,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

The U.P. showed a decline in the civilian labor force of 200 workers in February, dipping to an estimated 136,500. There were 9,000 unemployed in February, down by 700 since January.

In February 2025, the labor force had numbered 142,400 with 11,400 jobless, according to DTMB data.

Menominee County showed the lowest unemployment rate in the U.P. in February at 4.6%, followed by Dickinson County at 4.8% and Houghton County, 4.9%. Dickinson County’s rate was down from 5.3% in January and 5.8% in February 2025.

Iron County’s February jobless rate of 8.4% was down from a rate of 9% in January and 10.6% in February 2025.

Mackinac County had the highest jobless rate in the U.P. in February at 18.9%, followed by Schoolcraft County at 10.3%.

Regional data was released about a month later than usual, partly due to the 43-day federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1. Regional unemployment figures for March will go out in early May.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged since January, remaining at 5% during February, according to DTMB. The U.S. unemployment rate, meanwhile, inched up by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.4%.

Michigan’s February unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points above the U.S. rate. Over the year, the national unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points, while Michigan’s rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points.

Over the year in Michigan, private education and health services and government recorded the largest job gains, with employment increasing by 10,000 in each industry. The state’s manufacturing sector showed the largest drop since February 2025, falling by 12,000 jobs. Trade, transportation, and utilities was down by 9,000.

Seventy-three of Michigan’s 83 counties exhibited unemployment rate declines during February, with a median rate reduction of 0.6 percentage points. Unemployment rates fell in 77 Michigan counties over the year.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported a not seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 5.2% in Florence County in February. The January rate was 4.4% while in February 2025 it was 4.7%.

Marinette County’s January unemployment rate of 5.7% was up from 5.1% in January, as well as in February 2025.

FEBRUARY UNEMPLOYMENT

Menominee….4.6%

Dickinson….4.8%

Houghton…..4.9%

Marquette….5.8%

Gogebic……6.1%

Delta……..6.5%

Keweenaw…..7.0%

Ontonagon….7.1%

Baraga…….7.2%

Luce………7.3%

Chippewaw….7.8%

Iron………8.4%

Alger……..9.1%

Schoolcraft.10.3%

Mackinac….18.9%

U.P……….6.6%

Michigan…..5.3%

*Rates are not seasonally adjusted.