MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development recently announced that preliminary employment estimates for April 2025 showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.3 %, compared to last month’s a 0.9 % rise.

Green and Lafayette Counties, meanwhile, remained their positions near the top of the list in terms of low unemployment rate. Green County saw a 2.5% rate, an improvement over March’s 2.7%, but higher than the 2.1% a year ago this month. 

That was good for a third-place ranking among all counties. Lafayette was nearly the same — but came in the fourth position statewide — with a 2.5% rate in April of 2025, down from 2.7%.

But Rock County’s rate put that area at 41st in the state, with 3.6 % for April, down from 4% the previous month but up from last April’s 3.3%

Other highlights of the state report:

●  Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.3% in April, 0.9 percentage points below the national rate of 4.2%. The labor force decreased by 4,900 over the month but is up 900 over the year. The number of people employed decreased 5,400 over the month to 3,066,500 employed, down 9,900 over the year.

●  Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs decreased 1,500 over the month and increased 15,100 over the year to 3,053,700 jobs.

●  Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary April 2025 unemployment rates decreased in the 13 metropolitan areas over the month. Rates increased in all 13 of the metropolitan areas over the year.

●  Municipalities: Preliminary April 2025 unemployment rates decreased in 31 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month. Rates increased in three cities over the month and stayed the same in one city: Fitchburg. Rates increased in 33 cities over the year.

●  Counties: Preliminary April 2025 unemployment rates decreased in 69 counties over the month and increased in the remaining three counties. Unemployment rates decreased in four counties over the year, stayed the same in two counties, and increased in the remaining 66 counties.

The state also released its two-year workforce profile for each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. Each county profile includes:

●  Population and demographic statistics

●  Occupational patterns and employment by industry projections

●  Labor force participation and unemployment rates

●  Income and education data

●  Artificial intelligence (AI) exposure assessments by occupation

“Improving economic success and building a 21st Century workforce is important in every one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The 2025 county workforce profiles reflect the expertise that our regional economists can offer employers, community leaders, education providers, and many other workforce partners to meet current and future workforce needs,” DWD Amy Secretary Pechacek said in a statement. “This work helps advance local and regional efforts that are critical to the entire state’s success.”