MADISON - Green County and Lafayette County saw unemployment rates take another small but steady dip in May, mirroring the April-May troughs of the past two years, according to unemployment estimates released Wednesday, June 26, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Green County had a 0.6 percentage point drop in its May unemployment rate, from 6.8 percent in April to 6.2 percent. Green County also had a 0.6 point drop in April. The May unemployment rate in 2012 was 6.5 percent and 6.9 percent in 2011.
Lafayette County's unemployment rate took a 0.7 percentage point drop in May, from 6.1 percent in April to 5.4 percent. It dropped 0.6 point in April. The May unemployment rate stands steady compared to 2012 and 0.4 percentage points below May 2011.
County unemployment rates for May 2013 ranged from 4.4 percent in St. Croix to 13.8 percent in Menominee.
All but two Wisconsin counties had a rate decrease between April and May. Milwaukee County at 8.3 percent had no change; Florence County had a rate increase of one point from 7.4 to 8.4 percent.
Dane County was down 0.1 point to 4.8 percent. Iowa County shook off 1.8 percentage points to land at 5.8 percent in May, down from 7.6 in April. Rock County peeled off 0.5 point and ended at 8 percent.
Compared to May 2012 rates, rates decreased or remained the same in 51 counties. Iowa County was down 0.1 point from 5.9 to 5.8 percent. Rock County managed a 0.3 point drop to reach its 8 percent. But Dane County missed its May 2012 rate of 4.7 percent by 0.1 point.
Janesville metro statistical area followed Rock County's changes, clipping 0.5 point off its unemployment number for the month of May and 0.3 point compared to May 2012. Janesville MSA unemployment is at 8 percent.
The City of Janesville almost followed suit, losing 0.5 point for the month of May but only 0.2 point over May 2012. The city's unemployment rate is 8.5 percent, still higher than its suburban and rural areas.
Unemployment in the City of Madison in Dane County rose 0.1 point in May to end at 4.8 percent and remained 0.1 point above May 2012. The Madison metro area dropped 0.2 point from April, ending at 5 percent. As in the county, it too missed its May 2012 mark of 4.9 percent by 0.1 point.
All 12 metro areas between April and May had decreased preliminary unemployment rates. Compared to May 2012 rates, they decreased or remained the same in nine metro areas. The May rates ranged from 5.0 percent in metro Madison to 8.4 percent in metro Racine.
Rates in the 32 municipalities ranged from 4 percent in Caledonia to 11.7 percent in Beloit. Between April and May, 27 cities had a decrease or no change in rates. Compared to May 2012, 18 municipalities had a decrease or no change in rates.
Green County had a 0.6 percentage point drop in its May unemployment rate, from 6.8 percent in April to 6.2 percent. Green County also had a 0.6 point drop in April. The May unemployment rate in 2012 was 6.5 percent and 6.9 percent in 2011.
Lafayette County's unemployment rate took a 0.7 percentage point drop in May, from 6.1 percent in April to 5.4 percent. It dropped 0.6 point in April. The May unemployment rate stands steady compared to 2012 and 0.4 percentage points below May 2011.
County unemployment rates for May 2013 ranged from 4.4 percent in St. Croix to 13.8 percent in Menominee.
All but two Wisconsin counties had a rate decrease between April and May. Milwaukee County at 8.3 percent had no change; Florence County had a rate increase of one point from 7.4 to 8.4 percent.
Dane County was down 0.1 point to 4.8 percent. Iowa County shook off 1.8 percentage points to land at 5.8 percent in May, down from 7.6 in April. Rock County peeled off 0.5 point and ended at 8 percent.
Compared to May 2012 rates, rates decreased or remained the same in 51 counties. Iowa County was down 0.1 point from 5.9 to 5.8 percent. Rock County managed a 0.3 point drop to reach its 8 percent. But Dane County missed its May 2012 rate of 4.7 percent by 0.1 point.
Janesville metro statistical area followed Rock County's changes, clipping 0.5 point off its unemployment number for the month of May and 0.3 point compared to May 2012. Janesville MSA unemployment is at 8 percent.
The City of Janesville almost followed suit, losing 0.5 point for the month of May but only 0.2 point over May 2012. The city's unemployment rate is 8.5 percent, still higher than its suburban and rural areas.
Unemployment in the City of Madison in Dane County rose 0.1 point in May to end at 4.8 percent and remained 0.1 point above May 2012. The Madison metro area dropped 0.2 point from April, ending at 5 percent. As in the county, it too missed its May 2012 mark of 4.9 percent by 0.1 point.
All 12 metro areas between April and May had decreased preliminary unemployment rates. Compared to May 2012 rates, they decreased or remained the same in nine metro areas. The May rates ranged from 5.0 percent in metro Madison to 8.4 percent in metro Racine.
Rates in the 32 municipalities ranged from 4 percent in Caledonia to 11.7 percent in Beloit. Between April and May, 27 cities had a decrease or no change in rates. Compared to May 2012, 18 municipalities had a decrease or no change in rates.