County unemployment goes down

August’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by a full percentage point from July.

Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate fell from 6.3 percent in July to 5.3 percent in August.

In addition, Cass County experienced a drop in its unemployment figures from July to August. Its July rate was 5.6 percent and lowered to 5.5 percent a month later.

Meanwhile, Branch County’s one-month unemployment rate fell in August from the previous month. It was 5.1 percent in July and dropped to 4.5 percent in August.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was 4.5 percent, up from 4.4 percent in July.