MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES DECEMBER 2015
(By Place of Residence Not Seasonally Adjusted)
CIVILIAN
LABOR
FORCE
Upper Peninsula

TOTAL
EMPLMT

TOTAL
UNEMPL

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

DECEMBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
2015
2015
2014

140,900

132,800

8,100

5.7

5.5

6.8

Eastern U. P.
Chippewa County
Luce County
Mackinac County

23,525
16,675
2,425
4,450

21,575
15,525
2,250
3,800

1,950
1,125
175
650

8.3
6.8
7.1
14.5

7.2
6.4
6.6
10.5

9.4
7.9
7.7
15.7

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

81,750
3,050
17,225
13,050
33,575
11,525
3,325

77,550
2,800
16,250
12,450
32,050
11,025
3,000

4,200
250
975
625
1,525
500
325

5.1
8.2
5.7
4.7
4.6
4.3
9.7

5.0
7.6
5.3
4.7
4.4
4.6
8.6

6.0
9.5
6.9
5.3
5.4
5.2
9.6

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

35,625
3,350
6,675
17,175
1,000
5,025
2,375

33,675
3,150
6,325
16,375
900
4,700
2,200

1,950
225
375
800
75
300
175

5.4
6.4
5.5
4.6
8.6
6.2
7.4

5.5
6.6
6.1
4.6
8.4
5.9
7.4

6.7
7.9
6.7
5.7
10.2
7.5
9.3

4,760,300
157,245,000

4,545,600
149,703,000

214,700
7,542,000

4.5
4.8

4.5
4.8

5.6
5.4

Michigan
United States

The Upper Peninsula jobless rate edged up seasonally in December by 0.2 percentage points to 5.7 percent.
During December, nine of the Upper Peninsulas 15 counties reported higher unemployment rates with monthly
rate gains ranging from 0.2 to 4.0 percentage points. Mackinac County recorded the highest rate increase, up by
4.0 percentage points. The large December jobless rate hike in this county was caused by typical reductions in
seasonal tourism-related jobs. Schoolcraft County also recorded a higher than average jobless rate gain, moving up
by 1.1 percentage points to 9.7 percent. Three counties (Baraga, Menominee and Gogebic) reported minor rate
drops, and three areas, Dickinson, Houghton and Ontonagon counties reported no rate change for the month.
Menominee County had the lowest December unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula at 4.3 percent, followed
by Houghton and Marquette counties, both at 4.6 percent, and Dickinson County (4.7 percent). The highest
December unemployment rate in Michigan was posted by Mackinac County at 14.5 percent. Above average rates
were also experienced in Schoolcraft and Keweenaw counties at 9.7 and 8.6 percent, respectively.
Job reductions in the Upper Peninsula during December are typically seasonal and are concentrated in industries
such as construction and accommodation and food services.
Over the past year, the jobless rate in the Upper Peninsula dropped by -1.1 percentage points. Over this period
jobless rates moved down in all but one of the 15 regional counties. The largest rate decline since December 2014
was reported in Ontonagon County, down by -1.9 percentage points, followed by Keweenaw and Baraga counties
down by -1.6 and -1.5 percentage points, respectively. Schoolcraft County had a minor jobless rate increase over
the year (+0.1 of a percentage point).
The Upper Peninsulas not seasonally adjusted December 2015 unemployment rate of 5.7 percent was higher than
Michigans rate of 4.5 percent, and above the national rate of 4.8 percent.