CONTACT: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839

MADISON— Governor Scott Walker released the following statement today after the Department of Workforce Development announced Wisconsin’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped to an all-time low of 2.9 percent in February 2018.
“Our unemployment rate just hit an all-time low of 2.9 percent,” said Governor Walker. “Wisconsin is literally working as more people are employed today than ever before in our history. The previous low was 3.0% in May, June, and July of 1999 when Tommy Thompson was our Governor. Things were pretty good then, and they’re great now. This is a big win for Wisconsin!”

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development released the following information today:

Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2018 reached a record low of 2.9 percent, down 0.2 percent from January’s rate of 3.1 percent, and 1.2 percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.1 percent. The previous record-low state unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was reached in July 1999. Wisconsin also reached a record high for the number of people employed in the state, with 3,068,200 people employed, while the state’s total civilian labor force also reached a record-setting level, with 3,161,000 people considered actively employed or actively pursuing employment and part of the state’s labor force. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate also increased from 68.5 percent in January to 68.6 percent in February 2018.

Place of Work Data: Based on preliminary data, Wisconsin gained 1,500 total non-farm jobs over the month and 19,200 total non-farm jobs over the year. Additionally, the data shows that the state has added a significant 16,800 jobs over the last three months. Private sector employment remained essentially unchanged, with preliminary estimates showing a reduction of 300 private sector jobs over the month, while showing an addition of 18,600 private sector jobs over the year. The state has added a significant 11,800 manufacturing jobs over the year, from February 2017 through February 2018.

See the Department of Workforce Development’s release here.

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