County unemployment increased

The October unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by four-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 3.9 percent October unemployment rate was more than September’s 3.5 percent.
October’s unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percent higher than the same month one year earlier, when the figure was 3.3 percent.
Nonetheless, St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 4.6 percent in October.
The agency said the education sector returned to full staffing during the month, though jobs declined in the field of leisure and hospitality services. Also, more people than usual this time of year entered the labor market in October looking for work.
At 3.2 percent, Allegan County had the region’s lowest unemployment rate in October, while Hillsdale County had the highest, at 5.1 percent.