MADISON - Monthly unemployment rates in Green and Lafayette counties inched up by less than one-half percentage point in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment estimates report released April 3.
Green and Lafayette joined 59 other counties that had unemployment rate increases since January. The remaining 11 counties had either a decrease or no change in rates between January and February. Compared to February 2012, 49 had a rate increase, 16 had a rate decrease and seven had no change. Rates ranged from 5.6 percent in Dane to 15.0 percent in Menominee.
Green County unemployment rose by three-tenths of a percentage point, from 7.5 to 7.8 percent. It placed 20th for lowest rate in the state. The county remains two-tenths point below 8 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County is in 12th place. Its unemployment rose to 7.4 percent in unemployment, up four-tenths percentage point from 7 percent in January and up one-tenth point from last year.
Dane County unemployment remains slowest in the state. It rose one-tenth percentage point since January and three-tenths point since February 2012. Rock County, ranked 48th at 9.8 percent unemployment, which rose three-tenths point from a month earlier and one-tenth point from a year ago. Iowa County rose seven-tenths of a point to 9.3 percent in February, up from 8.6 percent in January, and one-half point up from 8.8 percent a year ago. Iowa County is in 40th place.
Preliminary unemployment rates increased in 10 of the 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas between January and February. Eau Claire and La Crosse had no change. Rates increased year over year for all but two: Green Bay, no change in its rate, and Sheboygan, a slight decrease. The February rates ranged from 6.0 percent in metro Madison to 10.2 percent in metro Racine.
Janesville MSA unemployment is 9.8 percent, up three-tenths from 9.5 percent January and up one-tenth from 9.7 percent a year ago. Madison MSA is up just one-tenth point from January and three-tenths from a year ago.
Of 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 20 had a rate increase, seven had a rate decrease, and five had no change between January and February. Year over year, 19 had an increase, while 12 had a decrease, and Oak Creek had no change. Rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Caledonia to 13.4 percent in Racine.
With 10.2 percent unemployment in February, the City of Janesville is ranked eighth highest in the state. Janesville's unemployment rate rose three-tenths point compared to January, but remains one-tenth below a year ago. In Madison unemployment remains unchanged since January at 5.3 percent, but four-tenths above a year ago. Madison placed just above Caldonia for the lowest municipal rate in the state.
Local unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Wisconsin's unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, rose to 8.2 percent in February - two-tenths higher than in January and also a year ago.
The unadjusted national unemployment rate was down four-tenth point in February, falling from 8.5 percent in January to 8.1 percent. The unadjusted rate was 8.7 percent a year ago.
The BLS preliminary unemployment estimates for cities, counties and metro areas are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households (0.06 percent).
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Wisconsin added 20,481 private sector jobs from September 2011 to September 2012. From December 2010 to December 2011, Wisconsin added 29,800 jobs, according to BLS.
Other Wisconsin economy indicators include:
n State revenue collections through February are up by 5 percent (adjusted) in fiscal year 2013, according to the Department of Revenue.
n New business formation is up by 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, according to the Department of Financial Institutions.
n Initial and weekly DWD Unemployment Insurance claims declined during calendar year 2012 and are running below pre-recession levels year-to-date.
Green and Lafayette joined 59 other counties that had unemployment rate increases since January. The remaining 11 counties had either a decrease or no change in rates between January and February. Compared to February 2012, 49 had a rate increase, 16 had a rate decrease and seven had no change. Rates ranged from 5.6 percent in Dane to 15.0 percent in Menominee.
Green County unemployment rose by three-tenths of a percentage point, from 7.5 to 7.8 percent. It placed 20th for lowest rate in the state. The county remains two-tenths point below 8 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County is in 12th place. Its unemployment rose to 7.4 percent in unemployment, up four-tenths percentage point from 7 percent in January and up one-tenth point from last year.
Dane County unemployment remains slowest in the state. It rose one-tenth percentage point since January and three-tenths point since February 2012. Rock County, ranked 48th at 9.8 percent unemployment, which rose three-tenths point from a month earlier and one-tenth point from a year ago. Iowa County rose seven-tenths of a point to 9.3 percent in February, up from 8.6 percent in January, and one-half point up from 8.8 percent a year ago. Iowa County is in 40th place.
Preliminary unemployment rates increased in 10 of the 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas between January and February. Eau Claire and La Crosse had no change. Rates increased year over year for all but two: Green Bay, no change in its rate, and Sheboygan, a slight decrease. The February rates ranged from 6.0 percent in metro Madison to 10.2 percent in metro Racine.
Janesville MSA unemployment is 9.8 percent, up three-tenths from 9.5 percent January and up one-tenth from 9.7 percent a year ago. Madison MSA is up just one-tenth point from January and three-tenths from a year ago.
Of 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 20 had a rate increase, seven had a rate decrease, and five had no change between January and February. Year over year, 19 had an increase, while 12 had a decrease, and Oak Creek had no change. Rates ranged from 4.3 percent in Caledonia to 13.4 percent in Racine.
With 10.2 percent unemployment in February, the City of Janesville is ranked eighth highest in the state. Janesville's unemployment rate rose three-tenths point compared to January, but remains one-tenth below a year ago. In Madison unemployment remains unchanged since January at 5.3 percent, but four-tenths above a year ago. Madison placed just above Caldonia for the lowest municipal rate in the state.
Local unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Wisconsin's unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, rose to 8.2 percent in February - two-tenths higher than in January and also a year ago.
The unadjusted national unemployment rate was down four-tenth point in February, falling from 8.5 percent in January to 8.1 percent. The unadjusted rate was 8.7 percent a year ago.
The BLS preliminary unemployment estimates for cities, counties and metro areas are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households (0.06 percent).
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Wisconsin added 20,481 private sector jobs from September 2011 to September 2012. From December 2010 to December 2011, Wisconsin added 29,800 jobs, according to BLS.
Other Wisconsin economy indicators include:
n State revenue collections through February are up by 5 percent (adjusted) in fiscal year 2013, according to the Department of Revenue.
n New business formation is up by 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, according to the Department of Financial Institutions.
n Initial and weekly DWD Unemployment Insurance claims declined during calendar year 2012 and are running below pre-recession levels year-to-date.