FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
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Wisconsin Local Employment & Unemployment Estimates Released
MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of unemployment and employment statistics for metro areas, major cities, and counties in Wisconsin. The estimates include updates for October 2017 and the preliminary estimates for November 2017. These numbers are not seasonally adjusted. In brief, the estimates showed:
- Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary November 2017 unemployment rates decreased in all areas when compared over the year to November 2016 and over the month to October 2017. The rates ranged from 2.1 percent in Madison to 3.3 percent in Racine.
- Municipalities: Preliminary November 2017 rates decreased in the state’s 32 largest municipalities when compared over the year to November 2016 and decreased or remained the same in all 32 when compared over the month to October 2017. The largest over-the-year decline was 1.5 percentage points in Racine and West Allis. The latest rates ranged from 1.9 percent in Fitchburg to 4.1 percent in Racine.
- Counties: Preliminary November 2017 rates decreased in all 72 counties when compared over the year to November 2016 rates and decreased or remained the same in 52 of the 72 counties over the month when compared to October 2017. The largest over the year decline was 2.5 percentage points in Menominee. The latest rates ranged from 2.0 percent in Dane, Green and Lafayette to 5.3 percent in Iron.
The release of the November 2017 local rates follows last week’s release of BLS monthly estimates showing a preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in November 2017, down from 3.4 percent in October 2017. The data also showed that the state added a significant 40,600 total non-farm jobs and 42,900 private-sector jobs from November 2016 to November 2017, with a significant year-over-year gain of 16,900 manufacturing jobs.
Other indicators of the state of Wisconsin’s economy include:
- Initial UI claims ended 2016 at their lowest level in their last 30 years. Year 2017 initial UI claims are running at the lowest in at least the past 30 years.
- Continuing unemployment claims ended 2016 at their lowest level since 1973. Continuing unemployment claims in Wisconsin are running at the lowest in at least the past 30 years.
- Additionally, 2017 YTD totals for both initial and continuing claims through week 49 are both below 2016 YTD totals for the same time period.
- Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded the states credit rating, noting that “(T)he stable outlook reflects the expectation that the state will experience moderate economic growth and will continue its prudent fiscal management practices.”
