UNDATED (WTVB) – Figures released recently by the State of Michigan showed Branch County’s unemployment rate dropped a half percent in November to 4.3 percent.
The county’s estimated labor force went up by 100 to 19,000 compared to October and 200 more members of the labor force were able to find jobs when compared to the previous month.
But both of those categories are down when compared to November of 2015. The Branch County labor force is down by 75 workers from year ago levels while there are 175 less members of the labor force who are working.
As for neighboring counties, Calhoun County’s jobless rate in November was at 4.1 percent while it was 3.9 percent in St. Joseph County’s and 4.6 percent in Hillsdale County.
Labor market analyst Doctor Leonidas Murembya says area jobless rate changes were minimal in November as typical seasonal hiring in retail trade was partially offset by continued seasonal layoffs in leisure and hospitality as well as in business services.
