MONROE — The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently released local labor and unemployment rates for Wisconsin. Locally in Green and Lafayette counties, the jobless rate, while not seasonally adjusted, ticked up by nearly a half of a percent, but remain at or under 3% in both locations.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job totals for the month of August 2023 showed Wisconsin’s total non-farm jobs reached another record high at 3,012,400. This is 32,800 more jobs than a year ago and an increase of 5,700 over the July 2023 nonfarm job total.
“In August, Wisconsin reached an historic high in total non-farm jobs for the second straight month, continuing an economic winning streak that included a record-low monthly unemployment rate and number of unemployed individuals during 2023,” DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek said. “While these numbers are incredibly positive, they call out the need to remove employment barriers such as a lack of quality, affordable child care. To maintain the state’s historic economic momentum and support working families and employers, we need to continue investing in priorities such as child care, expanded paid family and medical leave, higher education, and targeted sectors such as health care and education.”
Preliminary employment estimates for August 2023 showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.9%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9%, up 0.1% from last month, which was the same as a year ago. The labor force grew by 8,800 and employment increased 300 over the month of August.
The state’s seasonally adjusted total labor force participation rate increased to 65.7%, a full 2.9% higher than the average rate across the country. The non-seasonally adjusted participation rate of 66.4% in Wisconsin is 3.3% higher than the national average.
Nationwide for the month of August, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8%, 0.9% above Wisconsin’s rate, and the national labor force participation rate of 62.8% was 2.9 percentage points below the state rate.
Lafayette, Door and Pepin counties led the state with the lowest August 2023 unemployment rate at 2.7%. Lafayette was at 2.2% in July, an increase in a half of a percent. A year ago, the Lafayette rate was slightly lower at 2.6%.
Green County’s unemployment rate last month was 3.0%, tied with Dane, Iowa, Kewaunee and Sauk counties for the next lowest mark. Green had a rate of 2.6% in July 2023, and was at 2.5% in Aug. 2022.
Menominee County had the only double-digit unemployment rate in the state at 11.2%, more than double that of Iron (5.4%).
Wisconsin has a total labor force of about 3,133,500 workers, with 3,044,000 employed — leaving 89,500 unemployed. Non-farm workers made up 96.1% of the workforce (3,012,400 total). In total for Aug. 2023, the labor force participation rate was at 65.7% across the state, a 0.2% increase from July and a further 0.9% increase from Aug. 2022.
For more information, go to Wisconomy.com.
Data points
● Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 2.9% in August. The number of unemployed people increased 8,400 over the month and decreased 5,400 over the year to 89,500. The labor force gained 8,800 workers over the month for a total labor force of 3,133,500. The number of Wisconsinites employed increased 300 in August for a total of 3,044,000 employed.
● Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs increased 5,700 in August to a new high of 3,012,400, an annual increase of 32,800. Private sector jobs increased by 6,600 over the month and 34,300 over the year. Healthcare and social assistance jobs grew 2,600 over the month and 12,900 over the year.
● Metropolitan Statistical Areas: The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of employment and unemployment statistics for Wisconsin metropolitan areas, major cities, and counties in Wisconsin for August 2023.
● Municipalities: Preliminary August 2023 unemployment rates rose in Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month. Over the year, unemployment rates increased in 35 cities.
● Counties: Preliminary August 2023 unemployment rates decreased in one Wisconsin county and rose in 71 counties over the month and decreased or stayed the same in 5 of 72 Wisconsin counties over the year.