MONROE - October employment statistics, released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, show unemployment rates declined in all parts of Wisconsin, except the city of Superior and Iron County.
Green County was down 0.8 percentage point, from 5.8 percent in September to 5 percent in October. The county was down 1.1 percentage points from 6.1 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County was down 0.4 percentage point, from 4.6 percent in September to 4.2 percent in October. The county was down 1.2 percentage points from 5.4 percent a year ago.
The number of unemployed people last month in Green County, 994, dropped below 1,000 for the first time since November 2008, when the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, and 962 people were out of work. Then, the total number of people in the labor force, 20,800, and employed, 19,800, was about 950 people higher than this October.
Lafayette County also is seeing the lowest number of unemployed, 386, since November 2008, when its unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, and 358 people were unemployed. At that time, its labor force, 9,000, and number of employed, 8,600, was about 200 people lower than October 2012.
Unemployment estimates are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households (0.06 percent).
The number of initial claims for Wisconsin unemployment insurance has dropped in the past three quarters, from 141,600 to 112,600 to 102,300, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
In Green County, 522 new claims were filed in the third quarter, compared to 890 and 528 and in the first and second quarters. Lafayette County saw its number of new claims drop from 339 to 247 to 199 over the past three quarters.
Across the state, preliminary unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) declined in all 12 metro areas between September and October, and year over year. The October 2012 rates ranged from 4.1 percent in metro Madison to 7.1 percent in metro Janesville.
Rates dropped in Janesville metro from 7.9 percent last month and 8.4 percent a year ago. Madison metro was down from 4.6 percent in September and 4.8 percent a year ago.
Of the 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, all but one had declines between September and October. Superior had no change in its month-to-month rate. All had declines year over year. Rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Caledonia to 10.0 percent in Racine.
The city of Janesville was down to 7.8 percent, compared to 8.7 percent in September and 9.5 percent in October 2011. Madison, at 4 percent, was slightly lower than September at 4.5 percent and October 2011 at 4.7 percent.
Of the 72 counties, all but one had declines between September and October, and year over year. Iron County's October 2012 rate of 9.1 percent was up 0.1 percent from September and October 2011. Rates ranged from 4.0 percent in Dane to 12.5 percent in Menominee. Dropping from 13.7 percent last month and 13.5 percent last October, Menominee remains the only county in Wisconsin with double-digit unemployment. The next lowest is Iron County.
Rock County was at 7.1 percent, down from 7.9 percent last month and 8.4 percent in October 2011. Iowa County dropped to 4.3 percent, from 4.9 percent last month and 4.8 percent a year ago.
Green County was down 0.8 percentage point, from 5.8 percent in September to 5 percent in October. The county was down 1.1 percentage points from 6.1 percent a year ago.
Lafayette County was down 0.4 percentage point, from 4.6 percent in September to 4.2 percent in October. The county was down 1.2 percentage points from 5.4 percent a year ago.
The number of unemployed people last month in Green County, 994, dropped below 1,000 for the first time since November 2008, when the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, and 962 people were out of work. Then, the total number of people in the labor force, 20,800, and employed, 19,800, was about 950 people higher than this October.
Lafayette County also is seeing the lowest number of unemployed, 386, since November 2008, when its unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, and 358 people were unemployed. At that time, its labor force, 9,000, and number of employed, 8,600, was about 200 people lower than October 2012.
Unemployment estimates are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households (0.06 percent).
The number of initial claims for Wisconsin unemployment insurance has dropped in the past three quarters, from 141,600 to 112,600 to 102,300, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
In Green County, 522 new claims were filed in the third quarter, compared to 890 and 528 and in the first and second quarters. Lafayette County saw its number of new claims drop from 339 to 247 to 199 over the past three quarters.
Across the state, preliminary unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) declined in all 12 metro areas between September and October, and year over year. The October 2012 rates ranged from 4.1 percent in metro Madison to 7.1 percent in metro Janesville.
Rates dropped in Janesville metro from 7.9 percent last month and 8.4 percent a year ago. Madison metro was down from 4.6 percent in September and 4.8 percent a year ago.
Of the 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, all but one had declines between September and October. Superior had no change in its month-to-month rate. All had declines year over year. Rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Caledonia to 10.0 percent in Racine.
The city of Janesville was down to 7.8 percent, compared to 8.7 percent in September and 9.5 percent in October 2011. Madison, at 4 percent, was slightly lower than September at 4.5 percent and October 2011 at 4.7 percent.
Of the 72 counties, all but one had declines between September and October, and year over year. Iron County's October 2012 rate of 9.1 percent was up 0.1 percent from September and October 2011. Rates ranged from 4.0 percent in Dane to 12.5 percent in Menominee. Dropping from 13.7 percent last month and 13.5 percent last October, Menominee remains the only county in Wisconsin with double-digit unemployment. The next lowest is Iron County.
Rock County was at 7.1 percent, down from 7.9 percent last month and 8.4 percent in October 2011. Iowa County dropped to 4.3 percent, from 4.9 percent last month and 4.8 percent a year ago.