MADISON - When 2014 rolled in, the usual January rise in unemployment from end-of-year lows did not hold back.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment statistics report, leased March 19 by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce, unemployment increased in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties from December 2013 to January 2014, but decreased in all but two counties from rates in January 2013. The rate remained the same in Florence County year over year, and increased a fraction of a percentage point in Iron County. The January 2014 rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Dane to 13.5 percent in Iron.
But in Green and Lafayette counties, at least, the bounce-back did not exceed the January rates in the past five years.
In Green County, the January labor force of 20,356 is the highest it's been in the past five Januarys. However, Lafayette had a work force of only 9,000 in January, which is the lowest force it has seen in the past five Januarys.
The January unemployment rate rose to 6.2 percent in Green County, up from 4.6 percent in December, but more than one percentage point below the rate of 7.3 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County saw a rate of 5.9 percent in January, up from 4.6 percent in December, but a full percentage point below 6.9 percent in January 2013.
Neighboring counties saw similar rises in their monthly rates, but even better achievements compared to 2013.
Dane County came in at 4.3 percent, compared to 3.8 percent in December and 5.4 percent in January 2013. Rock County was at 7.9 percent unemployment in January, compared to 6.9 percent in December but still well below 9.3 percent a year ago. Iowa County was at 7.1 percent, a full two percentage points above 5.1 percent in December 2013, but yet, managed to whittle 1.3 percentage points off the January 2013 rate of 8.4 percent.
Statewide, the January 2014 rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Dane to 13.5 percent in Iron. Dane, Lafayette and Green are among the 25 percent of Wisconsin counties with the lowest rates.
All of Wisconsin's 32 major cities saw unemployment rates increase for January 2014 compared to December 2013. But they all also saw decreased rates compared to a year ago. January 2014 rates ranged from 3.4 percent in Caledonia to 11.2 percent in Racine.
In the city of Madison, the unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, up from 3.7 percent in December and 5.1 percent in January 2013. Janesville came in at 8.2 percent, up from 7.2 percent in December and down from 9.7 percent a year ago.
All 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas showed the same changes: up compared to December and down compared to last January (not seasonally adjusted). The January 2014 rates ranged from 4.6 percent in metro Madison to 8.3 percent in metro Racine.
Madison MSA was up 0.6 percentage point from December at 4 percent, and down more than a percentage point from 5.7 percent in January 2013. Janesville MSA was up a point since December to 7.9 percent, while shaving off 1.4 percentage points since January 2013 at 9.3 percent.
Local rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's rate was 6.7 percent in January, up from 5.8 in December 2013 and down from 7.9 percent in January 2013.
Meanwhile, the unadjusted U.S. rate for January 2014 was reported as 7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in December 2013 and down from 8.5 percent in January 2013.
On March 13, DWD released BLS estimates for January 2014, showing Wisconsin's adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent, down from a revised 6.3 percent in December and 6.9 percent in January 2013. The 6.1 percent January 2014 rate is the lowest since November 2008, and it remains below the national rate of 6.6 percent.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment statistics report, leased March 19 by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce, unemployment increased in all of Wisconsin's 72 counties from December 2013 to January 2014, but decreased in all but two counties from rates in January 2013. The rate remained the same in Florence County year over year, and increased a fraction of a percentage point in Iron County. The January 2014 rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Dane to 13.5 percent in Iron.
But in Green and Lafayette counties, at least, the bounce-back did not exceed the January rates in the past five years.
In Green County, the January labor force of 20,356 is the highest it's been in the past five Januarys. However, Lafayette had a work force of only 9,000 in January, which is the lowest force it has seen in the past five Januarys.
The January unemployment rate rose to 6.2 percent in Green County, up from 4.6 percent in December, but more than one percentage point below the rate of 7.3 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County saw a rate of 5.9 percent in January, up from 4.6 percent in December, but a full percentage point below 6.9 percent in January 2013.
Neighboring counties saw similar rises in their monthly rates, but even better achievements compared to 2013.
Dane County came in at 4.3 percent, compared to 3.8 percent in December and 5.4 percent in January 2013. Rock County was at 7.9 percent unemployment in January, compared to 6.9 percent in December but still well below 9.3 percent a year ago. Iowa County was at 7.1 percent, a full two percentage points above 5.1 percent in December 2013, but yet, managed to whittle 1.3 percentage points off the January 2013 rate of 8.4 percent.
Statewide, the January 2014 rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Dane to 13.5 percent in Iron. Dane, Lafayette and Green are among the 25 percent of Wisconsin counties with the lowest rates.
All of Wisconsin's 32 major cities saw unemployment rates increase for January 2014 compared to December 2013. But they all also saw decreased rates compared to a year ago. January 2014 rates ranged from 3.4 percent in Caledonia to 11.2 percent in Racine.
In the city of Madison, the unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, up from 3.7 percent in December and 5.1 percent in January 2013. Janesville came in at 8.2 percent, up from 7.2 percent in December and down from 9.7 percent a year ago.
All 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas showed the same changes: up compared to December and down compared to last January (not seasonally adjusted). The January 2014 rates ranged from 4.6 percent in metro Madison to 8.3 percent in metro Racine.
Madison MSA was up 0.6 percentage point from December at 4 percent, and down more than a percentage point from 5.7 percent in January 2013. Janesville MSA was up a point since December to 7.9 percent, while shaving off 1.4 percentage points since January 2013 at 9.3 percent.
Local rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's rate was 6.7 percent in January, up from 5.8 in December 2013 and down from 7.9 percent in January 2013.
Meanwhile, the unadjusted U.S. rate for January 2014 was reported as 7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in December 2013 and down from 8.5 percent in January 2013.
On March 13, DWD released BLS estimates for January 2014, showing Wisconsin's adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent, down from a revised 6.3 percent in December and 6.9 percent in January 2013. The 6.1 percent January 2014 rate is the lowest since November 2008, and it remains below the national rate of 6.6 percent.