Lenawee County's unemployment rate drops in March

David Panian, The Daily Telegram
·2 min read

ADRIAN — Lenawee County’s unemployment rate fell by more than a percentage point in March, following a statewide trend.

There were almost 500 fewer people in the county considered unemployed and more than 800 were counted as employed in March compared to February, according to state of Michigan statistics.

The county’s unemployment rate in March was 4.3% after being 5.5% in February, according to information released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. The state’s unemployment rate in March was 4.5%, which was down from 5.3% in February.

“Michigan’s regional labor markets recorded positive trends over the month,” Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release. “March was characterized by seasonal jobless rate reductions across all regions and payroll job gains in most metro areas.”

All 83 Michigan counties registered unemployment rate reductions over the month, with the largest jobless rate cut occurring in Mackinac County.

Lenawee County’s neighboring Michigan counties had jobless rate decreases. Hillsdale County’s rate went from 5% to 4.1%, Jackson County improved from 5.3% to 4.3%, Washtenaw County dipped from 3.7% to 3.1%, and Monroe fell from 6.3% to 4.5%.

Washtenaw County’s rate was the second-lowest in the state behind Ottawa County's 3%. Despite having the best improvement, from 18.1% to 14.5%, Mackinac County’s rate was still the state’s worst.

Jobless rates fell in all 83 counties over the year as well, the state said. Lenawee County’s unemployment rate in March 2021 was 6.1%.

Not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment in Michigan moved up by 30,000, or 0.7%, over the month with job gains occurring throughout all major statewide industries, the state said. On a numerical basis, sectors with the largest March job additions included manufacturing, which was up 9,000, and leisure and hospitality, which grew by 5,000 jobs.

In Lenawee County, the workforce grew by 386 in March to 44,798. There were 42,858 considered employed, up from 41,992 in February, and 1,940 listed as unemployed, down from 2,420

At a glance

The state of Michigan released the following unemployment rates for area counties in March:

  • Hillsdale County: 5% to 4.1%

  • Jackson County: 5.3% to 4.3%

  • Lenawee County: 5.5% to 4.3%

  • Monroe County: 6.3% to 4.5%

  • Washtenaw County: 3.7% to 3.1%

SOURCE: Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee County's unemployment rate drops in March

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