More Yoopers Working, but Unemployment Rate Rises

The number of people working in the Upper Peninsula fell slightly in August, but remained higher than it was a year ago.

The state reports that 139,200 Yoopers were employed last month… 2,000 more than in August of 2018.

The number of unemployed workers also rose compared to last year, because more people have entered the workforce. That drove the unemployment rate up to 4.9 percent – a half percent higher than a year ago.

The U.P. is tied with Flint for the highest unemployment rate in the state. The area with the lowest unemployment rate in August was Grand Rapids, at 3.1 percent.

See the full report here.