February unemployment down

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was eight-tenths of a percent lower than the previous month.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.8 percent February unemployment rate marked a decrease from January’s 4.6 percent.

St. Joseph County was below the state unemployment average, which was 4.1 percent in February.

The agency said jobless rates in Southwest Michigan moved down in February, primarily due to a seasonal employment rebound in the education sector caused by the recall of support staff who had been temporarily laid off during winter break.

Kalamazoo County featured the lowest unemployment rate in the region in February, at 3.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Van Buren County had the region’s highest, at 5.1 percent.

Cass County’s unemployment rate for the month was 4.3 percent.