MONROE - Green County's unemployment rate inched up one-tenth of a percent in October compared to September. That was enough to leave its statewide ranking teetering at the edge of the bottom 20th percentile of counties with the lowest rates.
Green County is now ranked 58th out of 72 counties in Wisconsin, as unemployment rose to 3.8 percent in October, without seasonal adjustments. It was at 3.7 percent in September, and at 3.2 percent in October 2007.
Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation, said in general, Green County's unemployment rate was higher last year.
"Up until September, it was better this year than last," she said.
The slowdown of employment is an indication Green County is starting to feel the effects of the U.S. economy, Schramke said.
On an annual basis, 13 Wisconsin counties recorded decreases, while 56 had increases, and 3 had no change in their unemployment rates.
Wisconsin's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4 since September, up slightly from 4.2 percent in 2007.
The U.S. rate was 6.1 percent, up from 6.0 in September, and 4.4 in October 2007.
Unemployment in Lafayette County decreased by one-tenth of 1 percent, from 3.2 in November to 3.1 percent in September, to bring its ranking down from 70th to 71st in the state.
Buffalo County, with a steady unemployment rate of 3.1 percent for the two months, retained the lowest ranking.
Lafayette County's rate also is below its November 2007 rate of 3.3 percent.
Green County was sitting at the cusp of the bottom 17th percentile in September when it was ranked 60th in the state.
Iowa County now holds that position, down from 56th, even though its unemployment rate of 3.7 percent had not changed.
Only Menominee and Rock counties recorded rates higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in October.
Menominee County has the highest unemployment rate in the state with 8.7 percent, up two-tenths. Its November 2007 rate was 8.9 percent.
Bordering Green County on the east, Rock County is ranked second highest in the state with 6.6 percent unemployment, up two-tenths from September, but up 1.4 percent from November 2007.
Rock County also had the second highest annual increase, behind fourth-ranked Florence County, up 1.6 percentage points,
The Janesville Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) recorded the highest rate at 6.6 percent in October, compared to September.
Dane County remained in the bottom 4 percentile, ranked at 69, with a 3.3 percent rate for both months. It is up two-tenths from November 2007. The Madison MSA had the lowest rate in October at 3.5 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in nine counties during the month of October, increased in 45 and remained the same in 18. Forest County recorded the greatest increase, up 0.6 percentage points to a 5 percent rate. The greatest decrease was Iron County, down 0.7 percentage points to 5.6 percent.
The Wisconsin Workforce Development shows the number of Green County initial unemployment insuranace benefit claims at 485, up from 407 in September. October 2007 initial claims were 302.
Continued claims were down from September by 555, to 2,179.
But that number is up by more than 860 from a year ago, even though Green County had a net gain of 64 jobs in the health care and social assistance industry, 35 jobs in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing industries; and 17 jobs in professional and technical areas, during that time.
Green County employees who have taken the hardest hit in the past month were in the leisure and hospitality industries (-38) and manufacturing (-30).
Industries in the county with the most job openings are in the health care and personal and home care aid industries (45).
Unemployment rates are expected to rise, as plant closings and mass layoffs are scheduled in December. Reverberations from the General Motors layoffs in Janesville also are on the horizon.
In Albany and Orfordville, Chromalox, which makes heating and cooling components, laid off 110 people on July 1.
On September 17, 184 people were laid off at Stoughton Trailers in Brodhead.
In Rock County, by Dec. 23, General Motors plans to layoff 1,345 people; Lear Corporation, which makes automobile seating, 371 people; Flint Special Services, general freight trucking, 28 people; and Allied Systems Group, specialized long-distance trucking, 117 people. Logistic Services Inc., a process and logistic consulting services, expects a layoff of 159 people.
In Brodhead, a layoff of an estimated 70 people on Dec. 23 is pending at Woodbridge Corporation, which makes auto seating foam.
Green County is now ranked 58th out of 72 counties in Wisconsin, as unemployment rose to 3.8 percent in October, without seasonal adjustments. It was at 3.7 percent in September, and at 3.2 percent in October 2007.
Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation, said in general, Green County's unemployment rate was higher last year.
"Up until September, it was better this year than last," she said.
The slowdown of employment is an indication Green County is starting to feel the effects of the U.S. economy, Schramke said.
On an annual basis, 13 Wisconsin counties recorded decreases, while 56 had increases, and 3 had no change in their unemployment rates.
Wisconsin's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4 since September, up slightly from 4.2 percent in 2007.
The U.S. rate was 6.1 percent, up from 6.0 in September, and 4.4 in October 2007.
Unemployment in Lafayette County decreased by one-tenth of 1 percent, from 3.2 in November to 3.1 percent in September, to bring its ranking down from 70th to 71st in the state.
Buffalo County, with a steady unemployment rate of 3.1 percent for the two months, retained the lowest ranking.
Lafayette County's rate also is below its November 2007 rate of 3.3 percent.
Green County was sitting at the cusp of the bottom 17th percentile in September when it was ranked 60th in the state.
Iowa County now holds that position, down from 56th, even though its unemployment rate of 3.7 percent had not changed.
Only Menominee and Rock counties recorded rates higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent in October.
Menominee County has the highest unemployment rate in the state with 8.7 percent, up two-tenths. Its November 2007 rate was 8.9 percent.
Bordering Green County on the east, Rock County is ranked second highest in the state with 6.6 percent unemployment, up two-tenths from September, but up 1.4 percent from November 2007.
Rock County also had the second highest annual increase, behind fourth-ranked Florence County, up 1.6 percentage points,
The Janesville Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) recorded the highest rate at 6.6 percent in October, compared to September.
Dane County remained in the bottom 4 percentile, ranked at 69, with a 3.3 percent rate for both months. It is up two-tenths from November 2007. The Madison MSA had the lowest rate in October at 3.5 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in nine counties during the month of October, increased in 45 and remained the same in 18. Forest County recorded the greatest increase, up 0.6 percentage points to a 5 percent rate. The greatest decrease was Iron County, down 0.7 percentage points to 5.6 percent.
The Wisconsin Workforce Development shows the number of Green County initial unemployment insuranace benefit claims at 485, up from 407 in September. October 2007 initial claims were 302.
Continued claims were down from September by 555, to 2,179.
But that number is up by more than 860 from a year ago, even though Green County had a net gain of 64 jobs in the health care and social assistance industry, 35 jobs in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing industries; and 17 jobs in professional and technical areas, during that time.
Green County employees who have taken the hardest hit in the past month were in the leisure and hospitality industries (-38) and manufacturing (-30).
Industries in the county with the most job openings are in the health care and personal and home care aid industries (45).
Unemployment rates are expected to rise, as plant closings and mass layoffs are scheduled in December. Reverberations from the General Motors layoffs in Janesville also are on the horizon.
In Albany and Orfordville, Chromalox, which makes heating and cooling components, laid off 110 people on July 1.
On September 17, 184 people were laid off at Stoughton Trailers in Brodhead.
In Rock County, by Dec. 23, General Motors plans to layoff 1,345 people; Lear Corporation, which makes automobile seating, 371 people; Flint Special Services, general freight trucking, 28 people; and Allied Systems Group, specialized long-distance trucking, 117 people. Logistic Services Inc., a process and logistic consulting services, expects a layoff of 159 people.
In Brodhead, a layoff of an estimated 70 people on Dec. 23 is pending at Woodbridge Corporation, which makes auto seating foam.