LANSING, Mich. (WLKI)- Unemployment rates declined across much of southwest Michigan in September, while Indiana's statewide jobless rate rose slightly.
New data from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget shows St. Joseph County's unemployment rate fell from 5% in August to 4.4% in September.
Branch County dropped from 3.9% to 3.6%. Cass County's rate declined from 4.8% to 4.3%, while Hillsdale County fell from 4.7% to 4.1%.
Statewide, 78 Michigan counties reported lower unemployment rates during September, with a median decrease of six-tenths of a percentage point. Sixty-four counties also reported lower jobless rates compared with September 2025.
Across the state line, Indiana's unemployment rate increased from 3.3% in August to 3.4% in September, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Indiana's labor force participation rate stood at 63.1%, above the national rate of 61.8%. The rate measures the share of residents 16 and older who are employed or actively seeking work.
Indiana reported total employment of more than 3.49 million people. Private employment increased by 3,200 jobs during September, led by gains in private educational and health services, manufacturing and other industries.