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IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Upper Peninsula's not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in September as data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed 1,000 fewer workers unemployed than in August.
"Michigan labor markets showed expected unemployment rate declines during September," said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. "Regional payroll job gains reflected seasonal hiring as schools resumed for the fall semester."
The U.P.'s September jobless rate was down 0.7 percentage points from August and 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.
The DTMB data showed 5,700 U.P. workers jobless in September, down from 6,700 in August and 6,400 in September 2025. The size of the civilian labor force in the region was pegged at 131,300 in September, which was down by 2,000 over the month and 11,500 over the year.
Regional labor force levels fell in 17 of Michigan's 18 labor market areas over the year, with a median reduction of 8.8%, Rourke said. The U.P.'s reduction was 8.1%.
Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the month, remaining at 5% during September. The U.S. jobless rate inched up by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.2%.
Over the year, the national unemployment rate fell by two-tenths of a percentage point, while Michigan's rate rose by one-tenth of a percentage point.
On a numeric basis, monthly job gains in Michigan were led by construction and manufacturing, with employment increasing by 1,000 in each industry.
The most significant job gains in Michigan since September 2025 came in government, up by 15,000, and in private education and health services, up by 4,000. Over the year, declines were seen in professional and business services, down by 8,000 jobs, and in trade, transportation, and utilities, dipping by 4,000.
Dickinson County's not seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 3.9% in September was down from 4.3% in August and unchanged from September 2025. There were 449 unemployed in a labor force of 11,421 in September. A year ago, there were 493 jobless in a labor force of 12,641.
Iron County's jobless rate of 5.8% in September was the highest in the U.P. It compared with a rate of 6.2% in August and 6% in September 2025. There were 226 jobless in a workforce of 3,901 in September. A year ago, there were 260 unemployed out of 4.367 workers.
The second-highest jobless rate in the U.P. in September was 5.3% in Gogebic County. Mackinac County had the lowest U.P. rate at 3.5%, followed by Menominee County at 3.7%.
All but five of Michigan's 83 counties demonstrated unemployment rate reductions over the month, with a median decrease of 0.6 percentage points. Sixty-four Michigan counties exhibited jobless rate decreases since September 2025.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Florence County's not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.4% in September was down from 3.5% in August but up from 3% a year ago. Marinette County's 3.3% jobless rate was down from 4.2% in August and up slightly from 3.1% in September 2025.
Unemployment rates decreased in all 72 Wisconsin counties over the month but decreased in only four counties over the year, preliminary DWD data showed.
SEPTEMBER UNEMPLOYMENT
Mackinac -- 3.5%
Menominee -- 3.7%
Dickinson -- 3.9%
Marquette -- 4.2%
Houghton -- 4.2%
Chippewa -- 4.3%
Delta -- 4.5%
Keweenaw -- 4.8%
Alger -- 4.8%
Baraga -- 4.9%
Luce -- 5.2%
Schoolcraft -- 5.2%
Ontonagon -- 5.2%
Gogebic -- 5.3%
Iron -- 5.8%
Upper Peninsula -- 4.3%
Michigan -- 4.8%
*Rates are not seasonally adjusted.