County unemployment up from year ago

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was eight-tenths of a percent greater than the same month one year earlier.
The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.3 percent January unemployment rate marked an increase from December’s 3.5 percent.
Still, St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 5.7 percent in January.
The agency said the civilian labor force rose modestly in January. While employment slightly decreased in most counties from December to January, the number of jobseekers increased considerably, leading to an increase in jobless rates.
At 4.2 percent, Kalamazoo County had the region’s lowest unemployment rate in January, while Berrien County had the highest, at 5.7 percent.
Cass County’s unemployment rate for the month was 5.3 percent.