July Unemployment Increased in Upper Michigan

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates increased in all of Michigan’s 17 major labor market areas in July, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.  Total employment and labor force levels declined in the majority of regions over the month.

“July jobless rate increases are typical in Michigan’s local labor markets,” said Rick Waclawek, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.  “Employment drops occur in most areas due to seasonal short-term job cuts in local education, temporary help, and manufacturing.”

From June to July, regional jobless rate increases ranged from 0.3 to 1.7 percentage points with a moderate median advance of 0.6 of a percentage point.  The largest over-the-month rate upturns occurred in the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Flint and Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), with the rates in those three areas up over a full percentage point.  In July, six major regions in Michigan displayed jobless rates at or below the U.S. seasonally unadjusted rate of 8.6 percent.

In Upper Michigan, unemployment was at 10.1% in July of last year, but down to 9.5% in July, 2012.  That was slightly up from the June, 2012 rate of 9.1%.

Statewide, the July 2011 rate of 11.5% was much lower in 2012:  June of this year was 9.2%, July was 10.3%.

The highest and lowest state unemployment counties in the state were Baraga County at 16.3% and Mackinac County at 4.2%.  Other U.P. counties are listed below:

Menominee Co. 7.8%

Keweenaw Co. 8.4%

Dickinson Co. 8.6%

Iron Co. 8.8%

Marquette Co. 9.2%

Delta Co. 9.4%

Alger Co.  9.9%

Houghton Co. 10%

Chippewa Co. 10.8%

Luce Co. 11%

Gogebic Co. 11.2%

Schoolcraft Co. 11.3%

Ontonagon Co. 13.3%