MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES FEBRUARY 2016
(By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted)
CIVILIAN
LABOR
FORCE
Upper Peninsula

TOTAL
EMPLMT

TOTAL
UNEMPL

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY
2016
2016
2015

142,700

132,600

10,000

7.0

6.7

8.3

Eastern U. P.
Chippewa County
Luce County
Mackinac County

24,350
17,250
2,500
4,600

21,800
15,775
2,325
3,700

2,575
1,475
175
900

10.5
8.6
7.1
19.7

9.7
7.9
6.8
17.8

11.9
9.9
7.9
21.7

Central U. P.
Alger County
Delta County
Dickinson County
Marquette County
Menominee County
Schoolcraft County

82,200
3,150
17,325
12,800
34,075
11,525
3,350

77,100
2,850
16,125
12,125
32,100
10,950
2,950

5,100
300
1,225
675
1,975
575
375

6.2
9.2
7.0
5.3
5.8
5.0
11.4

5.9
8.8
6.6
5.3
5.4
5.2
10.2

7.3
10.6
8.4
6.4
6.8
5.8
12.0

Western U. P.
Baraga County
Gogebic County
Houghton County
Keweenaw County
Iron County
Ontonagon County

36,100
3,275
6,800
17,400
1,000
5,325
2,300

33,750
3,025
6,400
16,400
900
4,900
2,100

2,350
250
400
1,000
75
400
200

6.5
7.7
5.9
5.8
8.4
7.7
8.6

6.4
7.4
6.7
5.6
8.6
7.1
7.9

8.0
10.1
7.8
6.9
10.7
8.9
10.7

4,815,400
158,279,000

4,573,600
150,060,000

241,800
8,219,000

5.0
5.2

5.1
5.3

6.1
5.8

Michigan
United States

The Upper Peninsula jobless rate edged up by 0.3 percentage points in February to 7.0 percent.
During February, most of the Upper Peninsulas 15 counties experienced unemployment rate increases. Monthly
rate hikes ranged from +0.2 of a percentage point (Houghton County), to +1.9 percentage points (Mackinac
County). Three counties, Gogebic County (-0.8 of a percentage point), and Menominee and Keweenaw counties
(both down by -0.2 of a percentage point) posted rate declines. Dickinson County reported no change for the
month.
Payroll job reductions in the Upper Peninsula during February are usually concentrated in the construction and
retail trade sectors.
The lowest unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula during February was in Menominee County at 5.0 percent,
followed by Dickinson County (5.3 percent) and Marquette and Houghton counties, both at 5.8 percent. The
highest unemployment rate in Michigan in February was posted by Mackinac County at 19.7 percent. Above
average rates were also registered in Schoolcraft County (11.4 percent) and Alger County at (9.2 percent) and
Chippewa and Ontonagon counties, both at 8.6 percent.
Since February 2015, the Upper Peninsula jobless rate fell by -1.3 percentage points. Over the past year,
unemployment rates dropped significantly in all 15 regional counties. The largest rate decreases were posted in
Baraga County (-2.4 percentage points), Keweenaw County (-2.3 percentage points), Ontonagon County (-2.1
percentage points), and Mackinac County (-2.0 percentage points).
The Upper Peninsulas not seasonally adjusted February 2016 unemployment rate of 7.0 percent was well above
the Michigan rate of 5.0 percent, and the national rate of 5.2 percent.