County unemployment down in December

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by three-tenths of a percent from November.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was released recently. It showed St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 4 percent in November to 3.7 percent in December.

The rate was 6.2 percent 12 months earlier.

Meanwhile, Cass County experienced an increase in its unemployment figures from November to December. Its November rate was 3.8 percent and rose to 3.9 percent a month later.

Also, Branch County’s one-month unemployment rate fell in November from the previous month. It was 4 percent in November and dropped to 3.9 percent in December.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent, down from 5.9 percent in November.