IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula jobless rate fell to 6.7% in May as the size of the region’s workforce grew and the number of unemployed workers dipped, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget.

May’s not seasonally adjusted jobless rate was down by 0.6 percentage points from a rate of 7.3% in April. It was up, however, by 1.2 percentage points from a rate of 5.5% in May 2024.

“Michigan regional labor markets were largely impacted by seasonal workforce increases over the month,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. The statewide labor market remained stable over the month, with “a minor” unemployment rate reduction in May, he said.

In the U.P., the civilian labor force totaled an estimated 143,500 in May, which was up by 900 since April and 1,800 from May 2024. There were 9,600 unemployed in May, which compared with 10,400 jobless in April and 7,800 a year ago.

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate in May edged down by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.4%. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment stayed constant for a third straight month at 4.2%.

Over the year, the national unemployment rate rose by two-tenths of a percentage point, while the statewide rate increased by 0.9 percentage points.

Michigan’s leisure and hospitality sector demonstrated the largest employment increase over the month, advancing by 5,000 jobs in May. Manufacturing held steady in May but was down by 11,000 jobs from a year ago. Construction jobs grew by 4,000 over the month statewide, and by 10,000 over the year.

According to a monthly survey of employers, on a seasonally adjusted basis, nonfarm payroll jobs in Michigan rose by 1.1% over the year, Rourke said.

Menominee County had the lowest jobless rate in the U.P. in May at 5.3%, followed by Mackinac County at 5.4%. The highest U.P. rate was 9.5% in Ontonagon County, followed by 8.8% in Alger County.

Forty-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties showed higher unemployment over the month, while jobless rates were up in every county from May 2024.

May unemployment in Western UP *

Houghton ……………………… 7.0%

Keweenaw ……………………… 7.6%

Baraga …………………………… 8.0%

Gogebic ………………………… 7.0%

Ontonagon …………………… 9.5%

U.P. ………………………………… 6.7%

Michigan ……………………… 5.3%

*Rates are not seasonally adjusted