MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently announced 3,058,500 total nonfarm jobs in the state, according to July 2025 preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Preliminary employment estimates for July 2025 showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down to 3.1%, which is 1.1 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.2%.

Lafayette County again held the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.4%, though it is a slight increase of 0.1% from June. Kewaunee County was second at 2.5%, while Green, Calumet, Clark, Dodge, Door, Iowa and Sawyer counties were all tied for third at 2.6%. For Green, Clark, Door, Iowa and Sawyer counties, it was the same rate as last month, though an uptick of 0.1% from the same time in 2024. Menominee County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 7.2%, up a full two points from last month.

The state’s labor force participation rate ticked down to 65% in July while the national rate decreased slightly to 62.2%, making Wisconsin’s participation rate 2.8 percentage points above the rest of the nation. However, Wisconsin’s participation rate is still 0.9% lower than at the same time in 2024, while the country is down 0.5%.

●  Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in July, 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 4.2%. Wisconsin’s labor force decreased by 6,700 over the month and 27,000 over the year. The number of people employed decreased 4,500 over the month to 3,051,300 employed, down 32,500 over the year. A year ago, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was at 2.9%, showing an increase of 0.2% over the past 12 months.

●  Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs increased 1,800 over the month and 20,200 over the year to 3,058,500 jobs. 

●  Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary July 2025 unemployment rates decreased in one metropolitan area over the month: Sheboygan. Unemployment rates increased in seven metropolitan areas over the month and stayed the same in the five remaining metropolitan areas. Rates decreased in three of the metropolitan areas over the year. Rates increased in four metropolitan areas over the year and stayed the same in the six remaining metropolitan areas.

●  Municipalities: Preliminary July 2025 unemployment rates decreased in 11 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month. Rates increased in 14 cities over the month and stayed the same in the 10 remaining cities. Unemployment rates decreased in 16 cities over the year. Rates increased in 15 cities over the year and stayed the same in the four remaining cities.

●  Counties: Preliminary July 2025 unemployment rates decreased in 16 counties over the month. Rates increased in 37 counties and stayed the same in the 19 remaining counties. Unemployment rates decreased in 28 counties over the year. Rates increased in 19 counties over the year and stayed the same in the 25 remaining counties.

Additional information about the data included in the release is available at Wisconomy.com