UNDATED (WTVB) – Branch County’s unemployment rate dropped once again in March to 4.5% according to figures released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.
It’s the second straight month Branch County’s unemployment rate has dropped after it was 5.2% in February and 5.3% in January.
Branch County had the 19th lowest unemployment rate of the 83 Michigan counties. Neighboring St. Joseph County had the sixth lowest unemployment figure in March at 3.5%.
Calhoun County matched the Branch County unemployment rate at 4.5% while Hillsdale County was at 4.4%.
On the down side, Branch County’s labor force dropped to 19,175 after being at 19,246 in February.
Michigan’s unemployment rate in March was 5.1% which was a drop from 5.3% in February.
Jason Palmer, who is the director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, says even though unemployment levels have been steady since the middle of 2015, workforce and employment totals have continued to track upward.
