MADISON — The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary, seasonally adjusted employment estimates for the month of April 2022. The data shows that Wisconsin’s preliminary unemployment rate held steady to tie the record low of 2.8% from March, as job growth and labor force growth continued.

Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 66.5% in April, unchanged from March, and 4.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.2% for April. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate in April was 2.8%, tying the record low set in March and 0.8 percentage points below the 3.6% national unemployment rate for April.

Wisconsin’s total nonfarm jobs increased by 2,700 from March to April 2022 while private-sector jobs increased by 3,100 over the same period.

The labor force also expanded over the month while the number of people employed reached a new high. The state’s gross domestic product reached a record high of $306.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021.

“Wisconsin’s preliminary unemployment rate of 2.8% in April 2022 has tied the record from March and demonstrates the continued strength of the statewide recovery among industries ranging from construction and manufacturing to retail trade and food service,” said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. “DWD is eager to help job seekers and employers connect through any one of the state’s in-person job centers or through the JobCenterofWisconsin.com website.”