County unemployment down

August’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 1.1 percent lower than the figure from the previous month.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s drop in unemployment went from 9.3 percent in July to 8.2 percent.

Allegan County featured the lowest unemployment rate in the region in August, at 6.4 percent. At 9.8 percent, Calhoun County had the region’s highest unemployment rate for the month.

Cass County’s unemployment rate for August was 8.2 percent, while Branch County’s figure was 7.6 percent.