The Department of Workforce Development released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics preliminary job totals for March, which showed year-over-year growth in Wisconsin’s labor force, employment, and jobs totals.
Over the year, Wisconsin’s labor force increased by 23,800, and the number of people employed grew by almost 13,000. Meanwhile, total nonfarm jobs remain near the record high set in February at 3,034,400.
Preliminary employment estimates for March also showed Wisconsin’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.0%, 0.8 percentage points below the national rate. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate for March was 65.6%, 2.9 percentage points higher than the national labor force participation rate of 62.7%.
Wisconsin’s labor force decreased by 3,500 over March, to 3,140,000. The number of people employed decreased 800 over the month, to 3,047,100. The number of unemployed people decreased 2,600 over the month, to 93,000.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased 1,700 over the month and increased 22,700 over the year in March. Private sector jobs decreased 2,900 over the month and increased 14,300 over the year to 2,623,400. Construction jobs grew by 3,100 jobs over the month, to a record high 143,900 jobs.
