LANSING, MI (WTVB) – Branch County’s unemployment rate in December increased slightly to 3-point-4 percent according to data released Thursday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.
It was at 3-point-1 percent in November after dropping from 3.8 percent in October.
The report stated that not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates advanced in 14 of Michigan’s 17 labor market areas over the month according to data from the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.
Labor market information director Wayne Rourke said, “Regional jobless rate increases over the month were primarily influenced by employment decreases across most labor market areas. However, preliminary annual average unemployment rates fell over the year.”
Workforce totals fell in all 17 Michigan regions over the month, with a median decrease of 2-point-2 percent.
The Battle Creek area civilian labor force dropped from 62,500 in November to 61,200 in December. But the December figure was higher than December of 2022 when it was 59,500.
The report showed Branch County had the 15th lowest unemployment rate among Michigan’s 83 counties.
Unemployment rates also went up in neighboring counties. St. Joseph County had a jobless rate of 3-point-8 percent while it was at four percent in Calhoun County and four-point-one percent in Hillsdale County.
Michigan’s December unemployment rate was at 4.3 percent.
Unemployment rates in December ranged from 2-point-5 percent in Livingston County to 15-point-5 percent in Mackinac County.
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