County unemployment up in December

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

Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate rose from 4 percent in November to 4.1 percent in December.

St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate 12 months earlier was 3.5 percent.

Cass County, meanwhile, also experienced an increase in its unemployment figures from November to December. Its November rate was 3.8 percent and rose to 4.3 percent a month later.

Branch County’s one-month unemployment rate went up in December from the previous month. It was 3.7 percent in November and checked in at 4 percent in December.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 4.3 percent, unchanged from November.