COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Typical seasonal employment changes is being cited as one of the reasons why Branch County saw a drop in its unemployment rate during September to 3.8 percent after being at 4.4 percent in August and 5.2 percent in July.
The Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiative reported that employment rose in the education sector while jobs declined in leisure and hospitality services.
Students and other seasonal workers continued to leave the workforce in September. Summer agricultural jobs also declined.
Unemployment rates fell in all regional labor markets by an average of five tenths of a percentage point.
Branch County’s labor force dropped by 200 workers from August to 19,025.
As for neighboring counties in September, Calhoun County’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent while St. Joseph County was at 3.5 percent and Hillsdale County was at 4.4 percent which was the statewide rate.
Analyst Dr. Leonidas Murembya cautions that while unemployment rates are low, the number of individuals active in local metro labor markets remains below 2007 pre-recession levels by an average of 5,300 with 2,600 fewer individuals employed and 2,700 fewer persons looking for jobs.
