By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Green, Laf. share No. 2 spot in state’s unemployment ranks
Local unemployment rate at 2.6%; Wis. 3.0%, U.S. 3.8%
bar graph data stock

MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development recently released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of employment and unemployment statistics for metropolitan areas, major cities, and counties in Wisconsin for March 2024.

Green and Lafayette continue to be among the state’s counties with lowest unemployment rates (not seasonably adjusted). Both tied for second with a rate of 2.6% unemployment for the month of March, just behind leader Dane County (2.5%).

For Green County, the percentage is the same as February, and up just 0.1% from March 2023. Lafayette’s number is down 0.3% from February 2024, but up from 2.5% from a year ago.

Dane’s number went up a full 0.5% from a year ago, and 0.3% from last month.

Iowa County was at 3.1%, Grant County at 3.2% and Rock County at 3.7%.

Wisconsin’s March 2024 unemployment rate held steady at 3.0%. The labor force decreased 3,500 over the month, to 3,140,000. The number of people employed decreased 800 over the month, to 3,047,100. The number of unemployed people decreased 2,600 over the month, to 93,000.

Preliminary employment estimates for March 2024 also showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.0%, 0.8 percentage points below the national rate. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate for March 2024 was 65.6%, 2.9 percentage points higher than the national labor force participation rate of 62.7%.

Total nonfarm jobs decreased 1,700 over the month and increased 22,700 over the year, to 3,034,400 in March. Private sector jobs decreased 2,900 over the month and increased 14,300 over the year to 2,623,400. Construction jobs grew by 3,100 jobs over the month, to a record high 143,900 jobs.

In brief, the nonseasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin shows:

●  Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary March 2024 unemployment rates increased or stayed the same in all 12 Wisconsin metro areas over the month; rates increased in all 12 areas over the year.

●  Municipalities: Preliminary March 2024 unemployment rates increased or stayed the same in 33 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month; rates increased or stayed the same in 34 cities over the year.

●  Counties: Preliminary March 2024 unemployment rates decreased in 24 counties, increased in 41 counties, and stayed the same in seven counties over the month. Over the year, rates decreased or stayed the same in 11 counties and increased in the remaining 61 counties.

Over the year, Wisconsin’s labor force increased 23,800 and the number of people employed grew by almost 13,000. Meanwhile, total nonfarm jobs remain near the record high set in February 2024, at 3,034,400.