November’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County remained less than 7 percent, as it dropped one-tenth of a percent compared to October.
The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget indicated seasonal retail hiring helped offset job losses in the construction and hospitality fields.
St. Joseph County’s 6.7 percent November unemployment rate was not only down from October, but was significantly lower than November 2011, when the figure was at 8.6 percent.
St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 7.9 percent in November.
At 5 percent, Barry County had the lowest unemployment rate in November in the region, while Hillsdale’s 8 percent made it the highest in the region.