Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics indicate that Wisconsin’s 32 largest communities saw an uptick in the jobless rate in January, compared to December, but a decline in the rate compared to January 2013. Caledonia had the lowest rate, at 3.4%, while Racine recorded the highest at 11.2%. Madison’s January rate stood at 4%, compared to 5.7% a year ago; Fitchburg’s was 4.9%, down from 5.7% last year; Sun Prairie’s unemployment rate of 5.2% in January fell from 6.5% in January 2013.
In a month-to-month comparison of unemployment rates from December 2013 to January 2014, Madison’s increased .3%, while Fitchburg and Sun Prairie experienced a .6% rise.
Dane County’s unemployment rate in December was 3.8% and rose to 4.3% in January, but was down from 5.4% in January 2013.
