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Jobless rate holds steady in Oct., Nov.
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MADISON - Green County was among the few places in Wisconsin where monthly unemployment rates show little to no decrease in November, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates released in late December. The estimates included revisions for October and preliminary estimates for November.

Rates decreased or remained the same from October to November in only 19 of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

Green County unemployment in November stayed steady, compared to October, at 4.7 percent. Lafayette County unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point in November, to 4.5 percent, compared to 4.4 percent in October.

While the unemployment rate remained the same, Green County saw a labor force increase of 537 workers in November; 502 of those were employed, and 35 were added to the unemployed list. The county had nearly 20,700 people in its employment force, an amount not seen since April 2009, when unemployment was 9.4 percent.

Lafayette County saw a loss in its labor force for November, down 73 people from October, to land at 9,164 workers. But the county saw only six extra people added to its unemployed.

Green County's November unemployment rate was down 0.6 percentage points from 5.3 percent compared to November 2012, and Lafayette County was down 0.3 percentage points from 4.8 percent a year ago.

November county rates ranged from 3.4 percent in Pierce to 13.2 percent in Iron. Dane County remained steady at 4.0 percent from October to November. Rock County rose 0.1 percentage point to end at 7.0 percent. Iowa County stood at 4.6 percent unemployment, adding 0.6 percentage points since October.

Compared to November 2012, the latest rates decreased in 64 counties, remained unchanged in Marinette, and increased in seven other counties. County rates are not seasonally adjusted.

In Metropolitan Statistical Areas, preliminary November unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased or remained the same in four and increased in eight of the 12 metro areas, compared to rates in October 2013, and decreased in all 12 metro areas compared to rates in November 2012. The November 2013 rates ranged from 4.1 percent in metro Madison to 7.7 percent in metro Racine.

Janesville MSA ended at 7 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from October but down 0.7 percentage points since November 2012. Madison MSA remained at 4.1 percent for the month, and down 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

Rates in municipalities decreased or remained steady in 18 of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities from October 2013 to November 2013. Compared to November 2012, rates decreased in all municipalities but one, Caledonia. November 2013 rates ranged from 3.2 percent in Caledonia to 11.2 percent in Racine.

Janesville's unemployment rate of 7.7 percent was up 0.1 percentage point compared to October and down 0.6 percentage points from 8.3 percent a year ago. Madison was down 0.1 percentage point from October, to 4 percent, and down 0.2 percentage point from a year ago.

Municipality rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's November rate was 5.8 percent, up from 5.7 percent in October and down from 6.2 percent in November 2012. The U.S. rate for November was 6.6 percent, down from 7.0 percent in October and down from 7.4 percent in November 2012.