St. Joseph County unemployment down

The December unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by four-tenth 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 3.1 percent December unemployment rate was less than November’s 3.5 percent.
December’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percent less than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was 4.2 percent.
St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 4.5 percent in December.
The agency said winter break for schools and seasonal workers withdrawing from the labor force contributed to the region’s decreased rate for the month.
St. Joseph County led the 12-county region by having the lowest unemployment rate for the month. Van Buren County had the highest, at 5 percent.