LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The unemployment rate in Branch County dropped again in August as reported on Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget
The state reported the Branch County jobless rate was at 7.6 percent after being at 8.8 percent in July.
It was the fourth straight month Branch County’s unemployment rate declined.
It was at 12.2 percent in June, 19.2 percent in May and 23 percent in April due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neighboring counties also saw a drop in their unemployment rates. Hillsdale County had a jobless rate of 7.8 percent, St. Joseph County was at 8.2 percent while Calhoun County still had one of the highest jobless rates in the Michigan at 9.8 percent
Only 11 other counties had a higher rate than Calhoun County. Wayne County was the only county in Michigan that showed an increase in its unemployment rate.
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates went down in 16 of Michigan’s 17 major labor markets while total employment went up in all of the markets.
Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Jason Palmer says ““Regional unemployment rates in August continued their recent pattern of monthly reductions since their pandemic-related spike in April. Most regions recorded solid employment gains and drops in unemployed as payroll jobs advanced throughout the state.”
He added industry jobs also edged up as the number of unemployed workers in tourism-related businesses continued to moderate.
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