Unemployment generally up during winter months
MONROE - Unemployment rates typically, and especially for seasonally unadjusted local rates, are at their highest levels during the winter months, according the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
That statement has been true for Green and Lafayette counties year to year.
Both counties had been relatively stable immediately after the economic meltdown in 2007. But in a long-range view, Green and Lafayette counties have been battling high unemployment rates pushing beyond the December, January and February timeframe in the past five years.
Since 2008 began, the 20 highest unemployment rates in Green County range from 8.3 to 10.5 percent. Thirty-five percent of those months were during the winter, but another 35 percent fell in the spring months. Green County also saw 15 percent of its highest unemployment rates in the summertime and 10 percent in the fall.
During the same five-year period, the 20 highest monthly unemployment rates for Lafayette County, ranging from 7 to 8.9 percent, have landed in the winter months 45 percent of the time, 30 percent of the time in the spring months and 25 percent of the time in the summer months. January 2013 registered in that 45-percent category for the county.
- Tere Dunlap
The January rates ranged from 5.5 percent in Dane County to 15.0 percent in Menominee.
Green County saw 7.4 percent unemployment, up from 5.5 percent in December, and the same level as the 7.4 percent a year ago. In Lafayette County, unemployment went to 7 percent, up from 4.9 percent in December and 6.6 percent a year ago.
Dane County unemployment, at 5.5 percent, rose from 4.4 percent in December and from 5 percent a year ago. Rock County, at 9.5 percent, rose from 7.9 percent in December and 9.4 percent a year ago. In Iowa County, unemployment was at 8.5 percent in January, up from 5.8 percent in December and 8.2 percent a year ago. Eleven counties had a rate decrease and four had no change from January 2012.
Of the 32 municipalities, year over year, 27 had an increase, while five had either a decrease or no change. Rates ranged from 4 percent in Caledonia to 13.3 percent in Racine. Janesville rose to 9.9 percent, up from 8.6 percent in December, holding equal to 9.9 percent in January 2012. Madison's unemployment rate rose to 5.2 percent, up from 4.3 percent a month ago and 4.7 percent in January 2012.
Preliminary unemployment rates in all 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas increased year over year for all but two. Year over year, Green Bay had no change in its rate, and Sheboygan had a slight decrease. The January rates ranged from 5.8 percent in metro Madison to 9.8 percent in metro Racine. Madison MSA was up from 4.7 in December and 5.4 percent a year ago. Janesville MSA, at 9.5 percent, rose from 7.9 percent in December and 9.4 percent in January 2012.
Local unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. The BLS preliminary unemployment estimates for cities, counties and metro areas are based on unemployment insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's January rate was 8 percent, up from 6.6 percent in December 2012 and up from 7.7 percent in January 2012. The U.S. rate was 8.5 percent, up from 7.6 percent in December and down from 8.8 percent in January 2012.
DWD recently submitted third-quarter data for U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics review showing 20,481 private-sector jobs were added from September 2011 to September 2012. From December 2010 to December 2011, Wisconsin added 29,800 jobs, according to BLS.
The Department of Revenue has reported state revenue collections through January are up by 3.7 percent (adjusted) in fiscal year 2013.
New business formations in Wisconsin were up by 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, according to the Department of Financial Institutions.