Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Ontonagon County took a big hit in unemployment numbers in November, while Gogebic County remained practically the same as in October.
The Ontonagon County rate jumped from 6.9 percent in October to 8 percent in November. While the civilian labor force remained the same both months at 2,225, total unemployment jumped from 150 in October to 175 in November. Total employment also dropped by the same 25, from 2,075 to 2,050.
A year ago, the Ontonagon County rate was 7.1 percent. The layoffs at White Pine Electric were not measured in that report since the contract with the state expired Nov. 24.
Gogebic County’s jobless rate was 5.4 percent, just up from the 5.3 percent last month. According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information, Gogebic County was one of only three in the past year to register small jobless rate cuts.
Unemployment rates increased in 11 of the 15 counties in the U.P. in 2015.
Gogebic County’s civilian labor force increased by 50 in November to 6,475. Total employment remained the same at 6,100, and unemployment rose by 25. A year ago the Gogebic rate was 5.6 percent.
The unemployment rate in Baraga County rose from 6.6 percent to 6.9 percent. It was 6.4 percent a year ago.
The Houghton County rate for November was 4.9 percent, up one-tenth of a point from October. It was 4.3 percent a year ago.
Keweenaw County’s jobless rate rose to 8 percent from 5 percent in October. The November rate was the same a year ago.
The lowest unemployment rate recorded in November was recorded by Dickinson County at 4.2 percent and the highest in Mackinac County at 11.1 percent.
