October unemployment up in county

October’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was one-tenth of a percent higher than the previous month.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 3.3 percent October unemployment rate marked an increase from September’s 3.2 percent.

St. Joseph County was below the state unemployment average, which was 3.8 percent in October.

The agency said the education sector returned to full staffing, resulting in jobs. That was offset, however, by seasonal occupation cuts in the leisure and construction fields.

Allegan County featured the lowest unemployment rate in the region in October, at 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, Van Buren County had the region’s highest, at 3.7 percent.

Cass County’s unemployment rate for the month was 3.4 percent.