IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate rose to 5.3% in November as about 2,000 more workers were unemployed than a year ago, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.

After climbing 0.8 percentage points since October, the U.P. jobless rate was 1.4 percentage points higher than in November 2023, when it was 3.9%.

Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics, said not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates rose in 11 of Michigan’s 17 labor market areas over the month. In most cases a larger workforce was a factor, but the U.P. was an exception.

The region’s civilian labor force was pegged at 139,400 in November, down by 1,500 over the month. The number of unemployed, meanwhile, grew to 7,400, up by 1,000 since October.

In November 2023, the workforce was estimated at 138,200 — 1,200 fewer than in November 2024 — while the number of jobless workers was 5,400.

Regional jobless rates in the state ranged from 3.6% to 6.5% in November, with a median rate increase of 0.1 percentage points. The largest over-the-month rate increase was in the U.P.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was reported at 4.8%, up by 0.2 percentage points from October. The national unemployment rate rose by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.2% during November.

Monthly job losses in Michigan were led by the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which was down by 2,000 workers, Rourke said. The professional and business services sector grew by an estimated 1,000 payroll jobs after five straight months of decline.

Over the year, the national jobless rate rose by a half a percentage point while the statewide rate increased by 0.7 percentage points.

Dickinson County’s jobless rate of 4.8% in November was up from 4.3% in October and 3.1% in November 2023. The civilian labor force numbered 12,162 in November, including 586 out of work. A year ago, there were 12,517 workers, with 393 unemployed.

In Iron County, November’s jobless rate of 5.9% compared with 5.2% in October and 4% a year ago. The November labor force of 4,746 included 282 unemployed. In November 2023 there were 197 unemployed among 4,887.

Houghton and Menominee counties had the lowest jobless rates in the U.P. in November at 4.4%, followed by Marquette County at 4.5%. The highest rate was 9.3% in Mackinac County, followed by Alger County at 8.9% and Luce County at 7.5%.

Sixty-nine of Michigan’s 83 counties showed higher jobless rates over the month. Every county had higher unemployment than a year ago.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the not seasonally adjusted jobless rate in November in Florence County was 3.1%, up from 2.8% in October and 2.8% a year ago. Marinette County’s jobless rate of 3.5% was up from 3.3% in October but down from 3.8% in November 2023.

November 2024

Jobless Rates

Houghton ……………………… 4.4%

Menominee …………………… 4.4%

Marquette …………………… 4.5%

Dickinson …………………… 4.8%

Gogebic ………………………… 5.2%

Delta ……………………………… 5.3%

Chippewa ……………………… 5.7%

Keweenaw ……………………… 5.7%

Iron ………………………………… 5.9%

Baraga …………………………… 6.8%

Schoolcraft ……………… 6.8%

Ontonagon …………………… 7.1%

Luce ………………………………… 7.5%

Alger ……………………………… 8.9%

Mackinac ……………………… 9.3%

U.P. ………………………………… 5.3%

Michigan ……………………… 4.8%

*Rates are not seasonally adjusted