COLDWATER: Branch County’s unemployment rate dropped in December but it was higher than the rate for December of 2015. According to the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, Branch County had a December unemployment rate of 4.1 percent which was two-tenths of a percent lower than the November rate. The December 2015 jobless rate in Branch County was 3.8 percent. While unemployment took a slight drop in December, Branch County’s labor force went down by 200 workers and the number of labor force members who were employed was down by 150 when compared to November. The Branch County labor force dropped by 225 members from December of 2015 to last month.
As for neighboring counties, St. Joseph County’s December unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, Hillsdale County was at 4.3 percent while Calhoun County was at 4.2 percent. Analyst Dr. Leonidas Murembya says jobless rates were stable in the region as the workforce declined seasonally. He added that seasonal retail hiring lessened in December after the peak of the holiday shopping season, and some temporary cuts in education jobs came with the onset of the winter break in area schools. Murembya noted that labor markets recorded typical seasonal job cuts in sectors such as business services, construction, and leisure and hospitality.
