LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The unemployment rate in Branch County took a big drop in June as more people went back to work thanks to the initial easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management. and Budget reported Thursday that Branch County’s unemployment rate for June was 12.2 percent which was down from the May rate of 19.2 percent and almost half of April’s staggering figure of 23 percent.
Neighboring counties also saw a significant drop in their unemployment rates. Hillsdale County had a jobless rate of 13.4 percent while Calhoun County’s rate was 15.2 percent and St. Joseph County had an 13 percent unemployment rate.
Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Jason Palmer says “regional jobless rates dropped significantly in June but remained high.” He added industry jobs recorded substantial monthly gains, especially in the manufacturing, leisure and hospitality sectors.
Total employment advanced substantially in all 17 major Michigan regions between May and June but regional unemployment rates are still far above pre-pandemic levels.
It was reported last week that Michigan’s jobless rate in June had dropped to 14.8 percent after being at 21.2 percent in May.
