By Jim Anderson

Iron Mountain Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN — Data from the Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget shows the Upper Peninsula labor force has grown by 6,100 workers over the year while the estimated number of jobless workers is up by 3,000.

The region’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate in January was 7.9%, which compared with 7.1% in December and 6.1% a year ago. The December rate had been the highest in the region since March 2021, when it was 7.3%.

The U.P.’s civilian labor force in January was pegged at 142,400, which compares with 136,300 in January 2024. There were 11,300 looking for work, up from 8,300 a year ago, DTMB said.

“In January, Michigan labor market areas demonstrated typical seasonal unemployment rate increases along with the usual winter reduction in payroll jobs,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.

Jobless rates rose in all 18 Michigan labor market areas over the month, with increases ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 percentage points, The U.P.’s rate increase was 0.8 percentage points.

All of the state’s labor market areas also exhibited labor force gains over the year, with a median increase of 3.2%, Rourke said. The U.P.’s gain was 4.5%.

Payroll employment estimates indicate manufacturing recorded the greatest decline of all industries in Michigan over the year, falling by 20,000 jobs, or a drop of 3.2%. The largest over-the-year payroll gains included private education and health services, up by 30,000; leisure and hospitality services, up 12,000; and government, up 11,000.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.3% in January. The national unemployment rate fell by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4%. Over the year, the national jobless rate rose by 0.3 percentage points while Michigan’s rate climbed by 1.3 percentage points.

Menominee County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in January at 5.6%, followed by Dickinson’s 5.7% rate and Houghton County at 6.1%.

The jobles rate in Delta County was 7.9 percent and 12.2 in Schoolcraft County.

Mackinac County’s January unemployment rate of 21.6% was the highest in the U.P. as well as the state. Along with Iron County, jobless rates reached into the double digits in Schoolcraft County, 12.2%, and Alger County, 11%.

Jobless rates were up over the month in 82 of Michigan’s 83 counties in January, while every county showed a higher unemployment rate than in January 2024.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Florence County’s January unemployment rate of 4.4% was up from 4% in December and 3.6% a year ago. Marinette County showed a jobless rate of 4.9% in January, which compared with 4% in December and a year ago.

JANUARY UNEMPLOYMENT

Menominee – 5.6%

Dickinson – 5.7%

Houghton – 6.1%

Gogebic – 6.6%

Marquette – 6.7%

Delta – 7.9%

Ontonagon – 8.0%

Keweenaw – 8.5%

Chippewa – 9.2%

Luce – 9.5%

Baraga – 9.7%

Iron -10.1%

Alger – 11.0%

Schoolcraft — 21.6%

U.P. – 7.9%

Michigan – 5.9%