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Southwest Michigan Unemployment Down In March

By: Mike Stiles • May 9, 2026 • Lansing, MI.
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(photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget)

(LANSING) - Unemployment rates went down around Southwest Michigan from February to March.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget says St. Joseph County's unemployment rate dropped from 4.5% in February to 4.3%.

The biggest decrease was in Cass County, where the unemployment rate went from 5% to 4.7%. Branch County saw their unemployment rate go from 4% to 3.9% and Hillsdale County dropped from 4.9% to 4.8%.

Forty-three Michigan counties demonstrated unemployment rate declines during March. Nineteen counties exhibited unemployment rate increases over the month, and 21 county jobless rates remained unchanged since February.