Lenawee County's unemployment rate rises in January

David Panian, The Daily Telegram
·2 min read

ADRIAN — Lenawee County followed the trend in January as unemployment rates rose across the state.

Joblessness was up a percentage point in the county, rising from 3.9% in December to 4.9% in January, according to data released last week by the Michigan Department of Management, Technology and Budget (MDMTB). The state's unemployment rate in January was 5.1%, up from 4.2% in December.

“Michigan regional labor markets exhibited typical seasonal increases in unemployment rates in January,” Wayne Rourke, associate director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release. “January nonfarm job totals also fell seasonally in all Michigan metro areas.”

Lenawee County's Michigan neighbors saw their unemployment rates rise between four-tenths of a point and one point. Hillsdale County rose from 4.2% to 5%, Jackson County was up to 5.2% from 4.2%, Washtenaw County rose from 2.9% to 3.3%, and Monroe County was at 4.8% after being at 3.9% in December.

Washtenaw County's jobless rate was the lowest in the state. Mackinac County had the highest at 17%.

For 2021, Lenawee County's unemployment rate was 5.5%, after it was 9% in 2020 because of pandemic-related restrictions. The county's annual unemployment rate in 2019 was 3.8%.

Statewide in 2021, the unemployment rate was 5.9%. It was 10% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2019.

In January, Lenawee County's workforce was 44,269, which was down from 44,620 in December. There were 2,165 counted as unemployed, up from 1,738 in December. There were 42,104 considered employed in January, which was down from 42,882 in December.

According to the monthly survey of employers, Michigan's not seasonally adjusted payroll employment fell by 66,000, or 1.5%, over the month, the release said. This was similar to the seasonal reduction recorded in January 2021, but less than the January job drop in prior years. Employment declines occurred in most major statewide industries, especially trade, transportation, and utilities (down 19,000), and government (down 17,000).

The January data reflects revised statistics for 2020 and 2021.

"The data in this release reflects recently revised historical estimates," the MDMTB said in the release. "All states in the nation participate in this revision process facilitated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics."

At a glance

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

  • Hillsdale County: 5%

  • Jackson County: 5.2%

  • Lenawee County: 4.9%

  • Monroe County: 4.8%

  • Washtenaw County: 3.3%

SOURCE: Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget

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