Unemployment on mark with seasonal work ending

By JAN TUCKER

[email protected]

Ontonagon County was one of only three counties in the Upper Peninsula which did not see an increase in unemployment in January, according to the Michigan Bureau of Management and Budget. In Ontonagon County the unemployment rate decreased from December’s 9.6 percent to 9.3 percent. One year ago that rate was 8.2 percent. Keweenaw and Luce Counties were the other two that experienced unemployment declines.

Gogebic County saw a slight increase in unemployment from 5.4 in December to 6.1 in January. One year ago the Gogebic unemployment rate was 7.1 percent.

According to the Bureau of Budget, the increase in rate is seasonal and in line with other January trends.

For trends, looking back to November rates, the civilian labor force in both counties has increased. There are 225 more in the labor market for Gogebic County, 150 more people are employed, and unemployment has risen by 50.

On a slightly smaller scale the same trend in appearing in Ontonagon County. The labor force has risen by 25, total employment remains the same at 2,050 for both months, unemployment has risen by 25.

Houghton County unemployment has risen from 5.2 in December to 6.6 in January. It was 6 percent one year ago.

Baraga County increased in unemployment from 8.1 in December to 8.8 in January. One year ago that rate was 7.7.

Keweenaw County, at one of the three with lower rates, slipped out of double digits decreasing from 10.9 in December to 9.5 in Jan.

The lowest rate in the Upper Peninsula was in Dickinson County 5.4 percent. Mackinac County recorded the highest jobless rate at 21.1 percent.