July unemployment up

The July unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by nine-tenths of a percent compared to a month earlier.
The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 5.6 percent July unemployment rate was higher than June’s 4.7 percent.
July’s unemployment rate, however, was 1.5 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was 7.1 percent.
Furthermore, St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 6.1 percent in July.
The agency said typical short-term layoffs in the field of education and jobs in business services fell during the month, significant factors in the one-month rate hike.
At 4.3 percent, Allegan County had the region’s lowest unemployment rate in July, while Hillsdale County had the highest, at 6.2 percent.