Less unemployed in Gogebic County

By JAN TUCKER

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Fewer people are unemployed in Gogebic County in the past five months, but statistics show there are also fewer employed.

According to the Michigan Civilian Labor Force, unemployment in the county in May numbered 350. That is 50 fewer than the 400 unemployed in January.

A closer look at the labor force statistics, however, show there are fewer people employed in Gogebic County in those five months. In January total employment reached 6,250 but in May those numbers fell to 5,900, a drop of 350.

The civilian labor force has also dropped during that time with 400 fewer people available for employment.

As a result, the unemployment rate has dropped from 6.1 percent in January to 5.5 percent in May. That is down from 6.7 in April and 6.3 percent a year ago in May.

To a lesser degree, the same trend has occurred in Ontonagon County in the same five months. Unemployment is down by 25, but total employment is also down by the same 25. The civilian labor force in Ontonagon has gone from 2,250 in January to 2,200 in May.

The unemployment rate in Ontonagon County in May was 8.1 percent, down from 9.1 percent in April. One year ago in May it was 8.4 percent.

The drop in the available labor force could also signal that in areas with an older work force, more of them are retiring.