MONROE - Green County's unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in April, down from the March rate of 10 percent, which was the highest the county had seen in at least 20 years.
The rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The number of people unemployed in April dropped by 364, from 1,977 to 1,613; but two-thirds of the drop was from a reduction of 221 in the labor force to 19,512 - the lowest work force in the county since September 2004.
The labor force number is the mathematical sum of employed and unemployed numbers, said Eric Grosso, senior economist from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
The drop in the labor force could be caused simply by fewer people looking for work and seasonal activity, Grosso said.
"Typically in Wisconsin, and I would suspect Green County is the same, March and April are marked by a increase in employment and decrease in unemployment," he added.
Green Count Development Corporation Executive Director Anna Schramke said the high unemployment rate of 10 percent in March could have triggered the decrease it the labor force.
"Often times people just quit looking for work. Often after a high unemployment rate you see that occur," she said.
Lafayette County labor numbers show more seasonal trends, long range, with employment coming up in spring and remaining high through summer.
The county had a significant drop in its unemployment rate to 6.3 percent in April from 8.2 percent in March. Those rates are better than 2009, which had 8.6 percent in March and 7 percent in April.
The county's unemployment numbers went from 772 to 599 in April, a decrease of 173 people.
However, the work force increased by 103 people, who apparently also found work, giving the county an April total of 8,912 people working, compared to 8,962 a year ago.
The rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The number of people unemployed in April dropped by 364, from 1,977 to 1,613; but two-thirds of the drop was from a reduction of 221 in the labor force to 19,512 - the lowest work force in the county since September 2004.
The labor force number is the mathematical sum of employed and unemployed numbers, said Eric Grosso, senior economist from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
The drop in the labor force could be caused simply by fewer people looking for work and seasonal activity, Grosso said.
"Typically in Wisconsin, and I would suspect Green County is the same, March and April are marked by a increase in employment and decrease in unemployment," he added.
Green Count Development Corporation Executive Director Anna Schramke said the high unemployment rate of 10 percent in March could have triggered the decrease it the labor force.
"Often times people just quit looking for work. Often after a high unemployment rate you see that occur," she said.
Lafayette County labor numbers show more seasonal trends, long range, with employment coming up in spring and remaining high through summer.
The county had a significant drop in its unemployment rate to 6.3 percent in April from 8.2 percent in March. Those rates are better than 2009, which had 8.6 percent in March and 7 percent in April.
The county's unemployment numbers went from 772 to 599 in April, a decrease of 173 people.
However, the work force increased by 103 people, who apparently also found work, giving the county an April total of 8,912 people working, compared to 8,962 a year ago.