Unemployment drop for October

St. Joseph County’s October unemployment dipped to 6.8 percent, a decrease of half a percent compared to September’s figure.

The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget indicated seasonal jobs and continued hiring in the education field offset an increase in job losses in the leisure and hospitality areas.

Compared to October 2011, last month’s unemployment rate in the county was down 2.2 percent.

St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was 8.3 percent last month.