Livingston County again had the state’s lowest jobless rate for the month of July.

Livingston County’s July unemployment rate stood at 3.1%. While that was up from June’s rate of 2.7% - the county was able to maintain the lowest statewide jobless rate for two months in a row. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget reports that all of Michigan’s 83 counties registered seasonal unemployment rate increases in July, showing a significant median gain of one full percentage point.

The state says the rate hikes are typical in July, attributing increases to seasonal staffing cuts in local government and education along with temporary layoffs in the state’s auto industry due to the annual vacation shutdown/retooling period at a number of plants.

Over the year, unemployment rates are down. The largest rate decline was recorded in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn statistical area, which includes Livingston County. (JM)