WASHINGTON: The jobless rate stabilized in February, a month after cuts were recorded across the Southwest Michigan work force. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, some of the cuts of support staff in education were made up for in February. However, construction continued to cut jobs seasonally.
Employment in leisure and hospitality inched up in some areas, while inching down in others. As a result, unemployment rates were level throughout Southwest Michigan, edging up or down by no more than two tenths of a percentage point.
Allegan County’s unemployment rate went from 3.9 percent to 4.1 percent. Cass County increased from 4.6 percent in January to 4.7 percent in February. Berrien County increased its jobless rate from 4.8 percent to 5.0 percent. Van Buren County maintained its jobless rate as the highest in the region, moving from 6.1 percent to 6.4 percent. That increase in unemployment was still lower compared to the 7.8 percent that was recorded in February 2015.
Van Buren was the only county in Southwest Michigan that recorded a higher unemployment rate in February than the nation’s unadjusted rate of 5.2 percent. The unadjusted statewide rate of 5.0 percent matched Berrien County. Allegan and Cass counties had a lower jobless rate than the state and the U.S.
Total nonfarm employment in Berrien County rose by 700 in February to a total of about 60,700. Trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities added 300 positions over the month, and employment was up in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and private education and health services.
Construction cut 100 positions seasonally in February. A 100-job improvement was registered in manufacturing, financial activities, and private education and health services. Total nonfarm employment in Berrien County was 1,300 – or 2.2 percent – above February 2015 levels.
