(LANSING) – Jobless rates continued dropping during the month of July across Southwest Michigan.

Information released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget shows the largest drop in the area was in Hillsdale County which went from 13.4 percent in June to 8.7 percent in July. That's a difference of 4.7 percent.

Branch County saw the jobless rate drop 3.4 percent, going from a June figure of 12.2 to a July figure of 8.8 percent.

St. Joseph County had their jobless rate go from an even 13 percent in June to 9.3 percent in July. That a difference of 3.7 percent.

Cass County dropped 3 percent, going from 13 percent in June to 10 percent in July.

Jason Palmer, Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, says Michigan's regional jobless rates were down in July, even though total employment levels showed only modest change in many regions. Palmer says industry jobs also edged up over the month as the number of unemployed workers in tourism related businesses continued to moderate.