County unemployment up from November

December’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County and its neighbors increased mildly 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 3.5 percent in November to 3.8 percent in December. The county’s December rate from a year earlier was 4.1 percent.

Cass County also experienced a growth in its unemployment figures from November to December. Its November rate was 3.6 percent and rose to 4 percent a month later.

Meanwhile, Branch County’s one-month unemployment rate increased in December from the previous month. It was 3.1 percent in November and elevated to 3.4 percent in December.

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