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MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of April. The data showed that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate declined to a new record low of 2.8 percent. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate remained at 67.5 percent in April.

In brief:

  • Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April was 2.8 percent. The national unemployment rate in April was 3.6 percent. The seasonally adjusted data also showed that the number of Wisconsinites were counted as unemployed in April stood at 88,100, a record low for the data series that dates to January 1976.
  • Place of Work Data: Wisconsin added 17,000 private-sector jobs from April 2018 to April 2019, while adding 15,100 total non-farm jobs over the same time-period. Wisconsin private-sector employment and total non-farm employment decreased 3,900 and 3,100 from March 2019 to April 2019 respectively.

“We must remain committed to equipping all individuals with the skills they need to acquire family-sustaining employment regardless of age, race, gender and perceived barriers to employment,” DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman said. “I am happy to see a record low level of unemployed individuals in Wisconsin, but we must remain steadfast. Those 88,100 individuals, and those who are not in the labor force but want to be, need our help. The skills employers seek are diverse – it is up to us to ensure that our workforce is comprised of individuals who carry in-demand skills which lead to a living wage.”

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

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