Preliminary estimates show the majority of Wisconsin metro areas experienced a decline or no change in their unemployment rates over the past month, and the rates are down in all 12 metro areas and nearly all cities and counties compared to December 2010, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released today by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
According to the data, Janesville’s rate dropped a full percentage point during the year, while Appleton, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, and Wausau rates dropped by 0.5 of a percentage point or more.
Compared to a year ago, five metro areas added jobs, including metro Milwaukee with 6,200, and Oshkosh-Neenah with 1,200.
From November to December, six of the state’s 12 metro areas experienced slight decreases in their unemployment rates, while three had no change and three had minor increases. Green Bay, Janesville, Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Oshkosh-Neenah, Racine, and Sheboygan had lower rates, while Fond du Lac, Madison, and Wausau had no change in rates. Appleton, Eau Claire and La Crosse had slight increases.
Madison still had the lowest rate at 4.7%, followed by La Crosse at 5.1%.
From November to December, seven metro areas added jobs, including Fond du Lac and Green Bay with 700 each.
Of Wisconsin’s 31 largest cities, 28 either had lower rates or no change, and 28 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties either had lower rates or no change.
In addition, seasonally adjusted jobs numbers for November did not change or were revised upward in 10 of 12 metro areas. Also from November to December, of the 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 25 had declining rates, and three had no change in rates.
Manitowoc’s rate increased 0.2 of a percentage point to 8.4%. Menomonee Falls had a slight increase, 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.6%, as did West Allis, 0.1 of a percentage point to 7.2%.
Caledonia had the lowest rate, 3.0%; and Racine, the highest rate, at 11.2%. Compared to a year ago, 30 cities had lower rates, while Oshkosh had a slight increase.
Of 72 counties, 68 had lower rates, two had no change, and two had slight increases when compared to a year ago. Door County had the highest rate at 11.7%, and Dane County had the lowest rate at 4.4%.
Seasonally adjusted jobs numbers for November were revised upward for metro Appleton, Eau Claire, Madison and Wausau, and they were unchanged for Fond du Lac, Janesville, La Crosse, Oshkosh-Neenah, Racine, and Sheboygan. The estimates were revised downward for metro Green Bay and the region including Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties.
The full report is available on the DWD website.
