Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
The civilian labor force and total employment rose but so did unemployment in Gogebic County in the last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Market Information. Unemployment in Gogebic County from November to December rose from 5.3 percent to 6.2 percent during that time. The good news was the labor force available for work rose by 125, from 6,175 to 6,300 in the past two months. Total employment in same time frame, also rose by 50 to 5,900. One year ago the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.
The rise in unemployed was a part of a seasonal change, according to the Bureau with all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula reporting unemployment rate increases.
Ontonagon County also reflected that change with an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent compared to November 8.4 percent. In December 2016, the rate was 9.6 percent.
In the past two months the Labor Force in Ontonagon County has increased by 25, with total employment down by 50. There were 225 people unemployed in Ontonagon in December compared to 150 in October.
Baraga County jobless rate stood at 7.4 percent in December up from 7.4 in November. One year ago the rate was 8.1.
Houghton County unemployment rose from 5 percent in November to 5.8 percent in December. It was 5.2 percent one year ago.
Keweenaw County recorded a 10 percent unemployment in December, compared to 8.8 percent in November. One year ago it was 10.9.
The lowest rate in the U.P. went to Dickinson and Menominee Counties at 5.1 percent.The highest in the U.P. and in Michigan was Mackinac at 19 percent.
