MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

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

TOTAL
EMPLMT

TOTAL
UNEMPL

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
2015
2015
2014

141,200

133,500

7,700

5.5

5.0

6.4

Eastern U. P.
Chippewa County
Luce County
Mackinac County

23,525
16,575
2,425
4,525

21,825
15,525
2,250
4,050

1,700
1,075
150
475

7.2
6.4
6.6
10.5

5.1
5.6
5.4
3.6

8.3
7.4
7.4
11.8

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

82,175
3,050
17,200
13,000
34,050
11,575
3,325

78,100
2,825
16,275
12,375
32,550
11,025
3,050

4,075
225
925
600
1,500
525
275

5.0
7.7
5.3
4.7
4.4
4.6
8.6

4.9
6.2
5.2
4.3
4.6
4.7
8.6

5.7
9.1
6.5
5.2
5.2
5.2
8.1

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

35,500
3,350
6,550
17,250
1,000
4,975
2,375

33,525
3,125
6,150
16,450
900
4,675
2,200

1,975
225
400
800
75
300
175

5.6
6.6
6.1
4.6
8.4
5.9
7.4

5.2
6.5
6.2
4.4
5.2
5.3
6.5

6.6
8.1
6.9
5.6
9.6
7.0
9.3

4,757,300

4,543,100

214,100

4.5

5.0

5.8

157,340,000

149,766,000

7,573,000

4.8

4.8

5.5

Michigan
United States

The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula increased during November to 5.5 percent, a monthly gain of five
tenths of a percentage point from the October rate of 5.0 percent. Eleven of the Upper Peninsulas 15 counties
experienced higher unemployment rates during November, with monthly rate hikes ranging from 0.1 to 6.9
percentage points. Mackinac County posted the highest rate increase, up by 6.9 percentage points, due to the
typical seasonal contraction in tourism-related jobs. Keweenaw County also had a high monthly jobless rate gain,
up by 3.2 percentage points to 8.4 percent. Three counties (Marquette, Menominee and Gogebic) reported minor
rate declines, and one area, Schoolcraft County reported no rate change for the month.
During November, Marquette County registered the lowest jobless rate in the Upper Peninsula at 4.4 percent.
Below average rates were also experienced in Menominee and Houghton counties, both at 4.6 percent, and in
Dickinson County (4.7 percent). The highest unemployment rate in Michigan was recorded by Mackinac County
at 10.5 percent. Above average rates were also registered in Schoolcraft and Keweenaw counties at 8.6 and 8.4
percent, respectively.
Payroll jobs in the Upper Peninsula tend to drop during November, with seasonal job cuts in construction,
recreational services, and accommodation and food services.
Since November 2014, the Upper Peninsula jobless rate contracted by -0.9 of a percentage point. Over that period,
jobless rates declined in all but one of the 15 U.P. counties. The largest rate cut was observed in Ontonagon
County, down by -1.9 percentage points, followed by Baraga, Alger and Mackinac counties down by -1.5, -1.4 and
-1.3 percentage points, respectively. Schoolcraft was the only county with a jobless rate increase over the year, up
by +0.5 of a percentage point.
The Upper Peninsulas not seasonally adjusted November 2015 unemployment rate of 5.5 percent was higher than
Michigans rate of 4.5 percent, and above the national rate of 4.8 percent.