LANSING – Jobless rates were up slightly around Southwest Michigan during the month of May.

According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, the largest increase in unemployment in the area was in St. Joseph County, which increased from 4.3 percent in April to 5.6 percent in May. That's an increase of 1.3 percent.

Hillsdale County had an increase in unemployment from 4.8 to 5.5 percent, which is an increase of seven-tenths of a percent. Cass County increased sixth-tenths of a percent from 4.3 to 4.9 percent. Branch County had an unemployment increase of one half of a percent, growing from 4.5 to an even 5 percent.

Statewide the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in May, which is an increase of six-tenths of a percent from April when it was 4.6 percent. One year ago, the State's unemployment rate was 21.1 percent. Wayne Rourke, Associate Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives says May's jobless rates in Michigan were due to an increase in the number of persons active in the labor force. He says that payroll employment advanced in May in most metro areas.