COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County’s jobless rate has dropped back down under 6%. The February number released by the state this week pegged the rate at 5.4%. It was 6% even in January to begin 2015. A year ago in February, we were at 8.3%.
Economist Brian Long says it looks like things are looking up for the Southwest Michigan economy. Joblessness is down, the mood is upbeat in plants he monitors and even the global economy seems to be on the mend. That is reflected in the latest jobless numbers for February.
Kalamazoo County has the lowest jobless numbers in the region at 4.3%. And every county but Van Buren is now beating the state and national average. The statewide average now matches the national jobless rate at 5.8%.
