County unemployment down in November

November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 1.3 percent lower than the previous month.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.4 percent unemployment rate in November was down from October’s 4.7 percent.

St. Joseph County was slightly above the state’s unemployment average, which was 3.2 percent in November.

Employment rose in the retail sector – fueled by the need for seasonal jobs and offsetting a loss of jobs in the leisure and hospitality field.

Allegan County featured the lowest unemployment rate in the region in November, at 2.4 percent. Despite its drop in unemployment from October, St. Joseph County had the highest unemployment rate in the region for November.

Cass County’s unemployment rate for the month was 3.3 percent.