Jobless rate mostly down in lakes area

The unemployment rate in most Brainerd lakes area counties continued to fall last month, but the rate in each area county - not seasonally adjusted - remains above the statewide average of 7.6 percent.

But five of the seven area counties recorded unemployment rates in August below last month's nationwide average of 9.6 percent.

In Aitkin County, the unemployment rate fell for the sixth consecutive month after reaching a peak of 13.5 percent in January and February. The August rate was 8.7 percent.

In Cass County, the August unemployment rate remained steady for the second consecutive month at 8.5 percent.

In Crow Wing County, the August unemployment rate of 8.0 percent - down from 8.3 percent in July - was the lowest county rate in the area. The August 2008 rate was 6.1 percent.

In Mille Lacs County, the August unemployment rate remained at a double-digit level - 11.1 percent - and was the highest in the area. The county typically records the highest rate in the region. The March rate was the highest peak in the area at 15.6 percent.

In Morrison County, the August rate dropped to 9.7 percent - the lowest level since a January and February high of 14.6 percent.

In Todd County, the August rate was 8.2 percent.

In Wadena County, the August rate was a full percentage point higher than Todd County at 9.3 percent.

In the city, Brainerd continues to have the dubious distinction as having one of the highest unemployment rates in large cities within the state. The rate though did fall in Brainerd for the seventh consecutive month. The August rate was 13.3 percent compared to a January high of 21 percent.

The highest large city unemployment rate was found in Hibbing at 16.1 percent followed by Virginia at 14.5 percent and then Brainerd at 13.3 percent. Bemidji was a close fourth at 13 percent.

The Brainerd micropolitan region had an August unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, down from 8.4 percent in July and from a high of 13 percent in January and February.

In Minnesota, the August unemployment rate was 7.6 percent, 8 percent seasonally adjusted. The U.S. unemployment rate in August was 9.6 percent, 9.7 percent seasonally adjusted.

KATHI NAGORSKI may be reached at kathi.nagorski@ brainerddispatch.com or 855-5859.