IRON MOUNTAIN — The Upper Peninsula unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent in September, down from 5.3 percent in August but up from 4 percent a year ago, according to data released by the Department of Technology, Michigan Management and Budget.

The decline in the seasonally adjusted rate came as the region’s civilian labor force rose about 1.2 percent over the month and 1.7 percent over the year. The labor force was pegged at 142,600 in September, up 2,400 from a year ago. There were 6,400 unemployed workers in September, compared to 5,600 in September 2023.

“Michigan Labor Market Areas Show Expected Drops in Unemployment Rate in September”, said Wayne Rourke, director of labor market intelligence for the Michigan Data and Analytics Center. “Regional wage gains largely reflected seasonal hiring in education-related industries following the start of the academic year.”

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.5 percent in September, which was 0.4 percentage points higher than the national rate of 4.1 percent. Over the year, the national unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points, while the statewide rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point from September 2023.

On a numerical basis, the most significant industry job gains over the year in Michigan were in government, with 19,000; construction, up 13,000; and private education and health services, up 9,000, Rourke said.

Dickinson County’s unemployment rate of 4.5 percent in September was down from 4.7 percent in August, but up from 3.5 percent a year ago. There were 12,336 workers in the civilian labor force in September, compared to 12,704 a year ago. The data showed 560 unemployed in September, up from 449 in September 2023.

Iron County posted an unemployment rate of 5 percent in September, down from 5.7 percent in August and up from 4.3 percent a year ago. The labor force was 4,773, of which 240 were unemployed. A year ago, the labor force was 4,858, with 211 looking for work.

Seventy-seven of Michigan’s 83 counties saw decreases in the unemployment rate during the month, with an average drop of 0.6 percentage points. Unemployment rates rose over the year in 79 counties.

Mackinac County had the lowest unemployment rate in UP in September at 3.1 percent, followed by Marquette County at 4 percent, and Houghton and Menominee counties, both at 4.1 percent.

The highest unemployment rate in the region was 6.2 percent in Ontonagon County, followed by Algiers County, 5.8 percent, and Baraga County, 5.7 percent.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the unemployment rate in Florence County in September was 2.9 percent, while the rate in Marinette County was 3 percent.