LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The unemployment rate in Branch County dropped for the fifth straight month in September but while the jobless rates are going down in Michigan, one analyst points out there are fewer people in the work force.
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget reported on Thursday the Branch County jobless rate was at seven percent which was down from the August jobless rate of 7.6 percent.
Branch County’s unemployment rate has been in a steady decline since it spiked at 23 percent in April due to the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neighboring counties also saw another drop in their unemployment rates. Hillsdale County went down to 6.8 percent, the Calhoun County rate fell to 8.6 percent while St. Joseph County’s rate was at 7.3 percent.
Calhoun County continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in Michigan. Only 11 other counties had a higher rate than Calhoun County in September. Wayne County had the worst unemployment rate in Michigan at 12-and-a-half percent.
While seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates declined in all 17 Michigan major labor market areas during September, total employment fell in 16 of the markets.
Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Acting Director Wayne Rourke says, “Michigan regional jobless rates decreased in September, but the reductions primarily were due to fewer persons in the state labor market. Total non-farm jobs advanced over the month in most metro regions.”
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