Unemployment rises in U.P. but falls nationally

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released unemployment numbers for December, showing a 0.3% decrease from the month before. However, the U.P.’s picture is less rosy.

December’s national rate was 6.7%. That’s the lowest it’s been since October 2008, right about when the country entered the Great Recession. Michigan’s unemployment rate also fell, from 8.8% in November to 8.4%.

The 15 Upper Peninsula counties experienced an increase in unemployment in December, though, to 9.5% from 9% in November.