COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Fewer people had jobs last month in Branch County where the July unemployment rate jumped a half a percent from June, rising to 5.7%. Jobless rates inched up across Southwest Michigan as typical summer short-term layoffs of educational support staff were recorded. Also, jobs in business services fell seasonally during July.
A year ago last month, the unemployment rate in Branch County was 7.6%. The numbers this July show there were 350 fewer people working in the county compared to June while the labor force shrunk by 275.
Branch County’s jobless rate of 5.7% is quite a bit higher than neighboring Steuben County, Indiana where the figure last month stood at 3.9% and that was unchanged from June.
