Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
September unemployment in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties was down a slight tick as it was in 14 of the 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula.
The September rate in Gogebic County was 5.6 percent, lower than the 5.9 percent in August and slightly lower than the 5.7 percent a year ago.
The comparison indicates since September 2016, the labor force in Gogebic County has shrunk by 250 people and the number of people working is down by 275. Total unemployment in September 2016 was 325 and this September 350.
Ontonagon County’s unemployment rate fell from 7.6 percent in August to 7.3 percent in September. That was an increase from September 2016, when the rate was 6.7 percent. Over the past year, the employment situation in Ontonagon has remained static. The labor force in the county is exactly the same at 2,200 and total employment slipped by just 25 people.
According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market, the highest unemployment rates during September were recorded in Ontonagon County, Schoolcraft County at 6.7 percent and Keweenaw, 6.3 percent.
Houghton County’s jobless rate in September was 5.3 percent, down from 6 percent; Baraga at 6.2 percent, was down from 7.1 percent.
The Michigan unemployment rate was 4.5 percent and the U.S. rate 4.1 percent.
