EAST LANSING, MI (WTVB) – While unemployment rates dropped in February around the State of Michigan, one of the reasons was the decline in Labor Force numbers for a second straight month.
Branch County’s unemployment rate in February was four-point-nine percent after it went up in January to six percent according to data released on Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
Branch County had the 13th lowest unemployment rate among the 83 Michigan counties. As for neighboring counties, St. Joseph County was at 5-point-2 percent, Hillsdale County was at five-point-four percent and Calhoun County was at six-point-five percent.
The state says not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates fell in all 17 of Michigan’s regional labor market areas during February.
Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Associate Director Wayne Rourke says, “Labor force levels declined for the second consecutive month in most Michigan regions. Payroll jobs rose in all Michigan metro areas in February, as significant recalls of workers occurred in the leisure and hospitality sector.”
Jobless rates remained higher when compared to February 2020 in all 17 Michigan labor markets with a median gain of 2.2 percentage points.
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