Unemployment rates have dropped in all of Michigan's labor markets over the last year.
Data from the State Department of Technology, Management and Budget shows the jobless rate in the Kalamazoo Labor market (Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties) was 4.5% last month, down from 6.9% in December of last year.
There were similar numbers for the Battle Creek labor market (Calhoun County) where the jobless rate was 4.6% in December, compared with 6.8% a year ago.