MARQUETTE – Unemployment in the Upper Peninsula improved in May from 9.2 percent in April to 8.4 percent despite six U.P. counties being among the 10 worst unemployment rates in the state. The state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in May at 7.3 percent.

The number of unemployed in the Upper Peninsula dropped by 900 from 13,200 to 12,300. Employment grew by 2,500 or 2.1 percent. Total employment in the Upper Peninsula in May was 133,600.

The civilian labor force in the U.P. grew 1.2 percent to a total of 145,900.

Ontonagon County in the U.P. had the worst unemployment rate in the state with 13.8 percent. The other five counties at the bottom of the list were Alger, Schoolcraft, Chippewa, Keweenaw and Baraga Counties.

Mackinac County had the best unemployment rate in the U.P. at 5.4 percent.

The unemployment rates for the U.P.’s 15 counties in May were: