MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week announced 3,068,700 total nonfarm jobs in the state, according to August 2025 preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Preliminary employment estimates for August 2025 showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.1%, which is 1.2 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. The state’s labor force participation rate ticked down to 64.8% in August while the national rate increased slightly to 62.3%, making Wisconsin’s participation rate 2.5 percentage points above the rest of the nation.

Locally, Green and Lafayette Counties finished tied atop the state with the lowest unemployment ranking. Along with Calumet and Iowa counties, Green and Lafayette had a nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.5% last month. For Green County, the mark is two percentage points higher than the same time as a year ago, but down one-tenth of a percent from July 2025. Lafayette County, meanwhile, is up two-tenths of a percent from last month, and up one-tenth from the same time a year ago.

Door, Kewaunee and Sauk counties were at 2.7% overall, tied for the second lowest marks. Menominee County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 7.7%, up nearly a full percent over the previous month, and nearly two percent from the same time last year. 

●  Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in August, 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 4.3%. Wisconsin’s labor force decreased by 7,100 over the month and 36,900 over the year. The number of people employed decreased 6,000 over the month to 3,045,400 employed, down 40,400 over the year.

●  Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs increased 8,600 over the month and 22,800 over the year to 3,068,700 jobs.

The nonseasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin August 2025 shows:

●  Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary August 2025 unemployment rates decreased in two metropolitan areas over the month: Fond du Lac and Oshkosh-Neenah. Unemployment rates increased in two metropolitan areas over the month and stayed the same in the nine remaining metropolitan areas. Rates decreased in one metropolitan area over the year. Rates increased in the remaining 12 metropolitan areas.

●  Municipalities: Preliminary August 2025 unemployment rates decreased in seven of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month. Rates increased in 15 cities over the month and stayed the same in the 13 remaining cities. Unemployment rates decreased in one city over the year. Rates increased in 32 cities over the year and stayed the same in the two remaining cities.

●  Counties: Preliminary August 2025 unemployment rates decreased in 26 counties over the month. Rates increased in 24 counties and stayed the same in the 22 remaining counties. Unemployment rates decreased in four counties over the year. Rates increased in 63 counties over the year and stayed the same in the 5 remaining counties.

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