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.

Dickinson County’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate in January was 5.7%, which compared with 5.6% in December and 4.1% in January 2024. The civilian labor force in January numbered 12,816, including 725 looking for work. A year ago, there were 12,426 workers with 506 unemployed.

The January unemployment rate in Iron County climbed to 10.1%, which was up from 8.7% in December and 7.6% a year ago. The 10.1% jobless rate in January was the highest in Iron County since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. During that period, Iron County’s jobless rate peaked at 18.2% in April 2020 before dipping to 10% in June 2020.

There were 450 workers unemployed in Iron County out of a labor force of 4,462 in January. That compares with 328 out of work in a labor force of 4,480 in January 2024.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dickinson County’s annual jobless rate in 2024 was 5.1%, which was up from 3.8% in 2023. The 2023 rate in the county was lowest it had been since 2018, when it was also 3.8%. The 5.1% annual rate in Dickinson County in 2024 was the highest since a 7.4% rate in 2020.

Iron County’s annual jobless rate in 2024 was 7.5%, up from 5.6% in 2023. The 2023 rate was the lowest since 2019, when it was also 5.6%. The 2024 annual rate was the highest since 2020 when it was 8.5%.

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%.

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 ………… 12.2%

Mackinac ………………… 21.6%

U.P. …………………………… 7.9%

Michigan ………………… 5.9%

*Rates are not seasonally adjusted