(LANSING) – Jobless rates continued to drop around Southwest Michigan during the month of June.

According to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, the largest drop in the area was in Hillsdale County, going from 22.7 to 13.4 percent. That's a difference of 9.3 percent.

Branch County saw a 7 percent decrease in their jobless rate, going from 19.2 percent to 12.2 percent.

St. Joseph County had a jobless rate of 13 percent in June, dropping from 19.5 percent in May. That's a decline of 6.5 percent.

Cass County dropped from 16.8 percent to 13 percent, a loss of 3.8 percent.

Jason Palmer, Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, says industry jobs recorded substantial monthly gains, especially in the Manufacturing and Leisure and Hospitality sectors. Palmer says regional jobless rates dropped significantly in June, but remained higher that pre-pandemic levels.