(LANSING) – Unemployment rates went up in December across Southwest Michigan.

Information released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget shows that St. Joseph County had the largest increase in unemployment around the area. They went from 4.3 to 4.7 percent, an increase of four-tenths of a percent.

Branch County went from 4.3 to 4.6 percent unemployment, which is an increase of three-tenths of a percent.

Hillsdale County had their unemployment rate go up two-tenths of a percent, from 4.5 to 4.7 percent. Cass County increased from 4.4 to 4.5 percent, which is a growth of one-tenth of a percent.

Statewide in Michigan, the unemployment rate for December was 7.3 percent, up from 6.3 percent in November. That's an increase of one full percent.

Wayne Rourke, Associate Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives says the regional labor markets experienced pandemic-related and seasonal job cuts in December. Preliminary 2020 annual average jobless rates rose significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.