Jobless rates increased seasonally across the state and locally in January.

Livingston County’s unemployment rate stood at 4% in January – marking an increase of nearly a full percentage point from the 3.1% rate in December. Livingston consistently held the number one ranking among all of Michigan’s 83 counties in the latter part of 2017, but now holds the fifth spot.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget reports that the state’s regional labor force and job trends were very typical for January, as payroll jobs fell in many seasonal industry sectors with the onset of the winter months. Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives says since January 2017, the majority of local labor markets recorded moderate jobless rate declines, while payroll jobs increased in most of the state’s metro areas. (JM)