MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of October. The data shows that Wisconsin added 17,200 private-sector and 16,500 total non-farm jobs from October 2018 to October 2019. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate in October was 67.1 percent, while the state’s unemployment rate in October was 3.3 percent. The national unemployment rate for October 2019 was 3.6 percent.

  • Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate in October was 67.1 percent in October, 3.8 percent higher than the national rate of 63.3 percent. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate in October was 3.3 percent, 0.3 percent lower than the national rate of 3.6 percent.
  • Place of Work Data: Wisconsin added 17,200 private-sector and 16,500 total non-farm jobs from October 2018 to October 2019. From September 2019 to October 2019 Wisconsin’s private-sector and total non-farm jobs declined by 1,100 and 1,200 respectively.

“Wisconsin has continued to add private-sector and non-farm jobs over the last year, despite global trade tensions negatively affecting two of Wisconsin’s top industries, agriculture and manufacturing,” DWD Secretary-designee Caleb Frostman said. “These vitally important economic sectors in Wisconsin are bearing the brunt of these trade negotiations, losing nearly 2 dairy farms per day, and 7,700 manufacturing jobs in the last year. As we continue to connect the dots between agencies, DWD is committed to developing and enhancing programming that leads to careers that provide a family supporting wage.”

Today’s full report can be viewed on DWD’s premier source for labor market information, WisConomy.com.

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