COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Figures released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show the August unemployment rate for Branch County was five percent, which was down a half percent from July.
It also ended a three month rise in Branch County unemployment which saw the county’s jobless rate go from 3.4 percent in April to 5.5 percent in July.
But the August figure is higher than Branch County’s unemployment rate in August 2016 when it was at 4.4 percent.
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates fell in August in 16 of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas.
State officials say total employment change was mixed throughout the various areas, while workforce levels declined in the majority of regions over the month.
As for neighboring counties, St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate was at 4.4 percent, Calhoun County was at 5.1 percent while Hillsdale County was at 5.4 percent.
Department Director Jason Palmer says the monthly jobless rate reductions throughout the state’s local regions were typical for August.
Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August rose by two-tenths of a percentage point from July to 3.9 percent.
