MONROE — Wisconsin kept its winning streak alive on the jobless front in October, as unemployment rates declined in all 12 Wisconsin metro areas over the month.

Lafayette County and Green County also retained the lowest rates, respectively, of any counties in Wisconsin. Still, there are some signs that the red-hot job market might be cooling slightly — jobless rates increased in all 12 areas year over year, state officials said.

In Lafayette County, the rate dropped from 2.4% in September, to 2.1% in October. In Green County, the rate also dropped, from 2.6% in September to 2.3% in October. And in Rock County, the rate dipped from 3.6% in September to 3.4% in October.

Last year at this time in Lafayette County, the rate stood at 2.6%, while a year ago in Green County the number came in at 2.2%.

“On balance, Wisconsin’s labor market economy is robust heading into the final months of 2023,” said Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek. “Initial and weekly unemployment claims remain around record lows.”

The worst unemployment rate in the state, at 5.5%, was logged in Menominee County in the northeast corner of Wisconsin. Even there, unemployment dropped month-to-month from the previous year’s 5.7%

“With the supply of Wisconsin workers increasing slightly over the month, the state’s long-term economic picture remains one of expansion, with total jobs hovering around record highs and state unemployment still low compared to the national rate,” Pechacek said. “Our state’s labor force participation rate held steady even as the national rate decreased.”

●  Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in October, up from 3.1% in September and mirroring the 0.1% increase in the national unemployment rate, which was 3.9% in October compared to 3.8% the previous month. 

●  The number of unemployed people increased 5,400 over the month and increased by 8,500 over the year to 102,000, still remaining around record lows. 

●  The labor force gained 3,600 workers over the month for a total of 3,142,100 workers. 

●  The number of people employed decreased by 1,800 over the month for a total of 3,040,100 employed.

●  Total jobs increased by 32,800 over the year and decreased 1,400 over the month to 3,013,900 total jobs in October. 

●  Private sector jobs increased by 24,500 over the year and decreased by 2,800 over the month to 2,607,600. 

●  Health care and social assistance jobs grew by 13,600 over the year. 

●  Construction jobs decreased by 900 over the month and increased by 1,500 over the year.