Jobless rates drop as mercury rises

May's drop in the percentage of unemployed meant the numbers dropped below double-digits - in all but one area county - for the first time this year.

A welcome summer lift was expected in regional jobs and May's numbers continued a downward trend that began in April.

The last time most area counties were below double-digits for jobless rates was in November 2008.

May jobless rates

County, May jobless rate, May '08 jobless rate:

Aitkin, 9.7 percent, 6.9 percent.

Cass, 9.2 percent, 6.7 percent.

Crow Wing, 9.3 percent, 6 percent.

Mille Lacs, 11.8 percent, 7.9 percent.

Morrison, 9.9 percent, 5.9 percent.

Todd, 8.5 percent, 5.4 percent.

Wadena, 9.8 percent, 6.6 percent.

- Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

The jobless rates ranged from a low of 8.5 percent in Todd County to a high of 11.8 percent in Mille Lacs County. The area other counties ranged from 9.2 percent to 9.8 percent.

In the seven county area, there are 107,756 people in the labor force with 10,391 unemployed. Crow Wing County has the largest labor force of the group with 34,116 and the most unemployed at 3,173.

The Brainerd micropolitan area listed a 9.3 percent jobless rate for May, down from 11.6 percent in April.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in May with a seasonally adjusted May rate of 9.4 percent. In April, the national jobless rate was 8.6 percent.

The Minnesota May jobless rate was 7.8 percent or 8.2 percent when seasonally adjusted. In April, the state's jobless rate was 8.1 percent. A year ago, the state's jobless rate was 4.9 percent and the national unemployment rate was 5.2 percent.