County unemployment remains unchanged

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County remained unchanged from the previous month.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.2 percent October unemployment rate equaled the same figure from September.

St. Joseph County was at the same level as the state’s unemployment average for the month.

The agency said the educational sector returned to full staffing in October, while jobs declined in leisure and hospitality services. At the same time, summer seasonal workers continued to leave the workforce.

Allegan County featured the lowest unemployment rate in the region in October, at 3.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Van Buren County had the region’s highest, at 4.7 percent.

Cass County’s unemployment rate for the month was 4.2 percent.