MONROE - Unemployment rates in Green and Lafayette counties hit six- and seven-year lows in August.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates of local unemployment statistics released Wednesday placed unemployment in Green County at 4.1 percent and in Lafayette County at 4 percent. The last time the counties saw August unemployment that low in Green County was 2007 when the rate was 4.1 percent, and in Lafayette County in 2008 when the rate was 3.9 percent.
Green County had 4.8 percent unemployment in July 2014 and 5.3 percent in August 2013. Lafayette County had 4.6 percent unemployment in July and 5.2 percent a year ago.
However, the labor forces were also lower compared to July. Workforce is the total number of people employed and of those collecting unemployment insurance.
Green County had about 20,560, or 110 fewer, people in the workforce compared to July. About 160 people came off unemployment insurance, but 50 people were added to the employed. A total of more than 19,720 people were employed. The August 2013 work force was about the same as this year, but only about 19,470 people had jobs.
Lafayette County also had a smaller August workforce of about 9,130 people, which was 75 fewer people compared to July; 60 people came off unemployment insurance, and 15 left the ranks of the employed. A total of about 8,770 people were employed. Last year, the August workforce was 9,170, when 8,700 people had jobs.
August unemployment rates decreased in all 72 Wisconsin counties compared to rates in July, and they decreased in all but Burnett County, which had no change, compared to August 2013 rates. The August rates ranged from 3.4 percent in Pierce to 15.3 percent in Menominee.
Dane County was at 3.5 percent, down from 4 percent in July and from 4.6 percent in August 2013. Iowa County also had 3.5 percent unemployment, down from 4.3 percent in July and 5.0 percent in August 2013. Dane, Iowa, Lafayette and Green were ranked among the 10 counties with the lowest unemployment rates.
Rock County hit 5.9 percent, down from 6.7 percent in July and 7.5 percent a year ago. Rock remains ranked among the counties with the highest unemployment rates, but it is also one of nine counties that have lowered their unemployment rates by more than 1.5 percentage points in the past year.
Preliminary August unemployment rates for Metropolitan Statistical Areas decreased in all 12 metro areas compared to July rates. The August rates decreased in all metro areas by a full percentage point or more compared to August 2013 rates. The August rates ranged from 3.6 percent in metro Madison to 6.7 percent in metro Racine.
Preliminary August rates decreased in all of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities compared to rates in July. The August rates also decreased in all 32 municipalities compared to August 2013 rates, dropping by nearly 2 percentage points or more in eight municipalities, including Beloit and Milwaukee. The latest August rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Caledonia to 9.6 percent in Racine.
Local statistics are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustments, Wisconsin's August rate was 5.1 percent, down from 5.8 percent in July and down from 6.4 percent in August 2013. Overall, state employment at 2.95 million was down by 4,400 jobs compared to July, but up by 54,400 jobs since August 2013. The state's seasonally adjusted, 12-month gain of 38,800 in total nonfarm jobs ranked 21st highest in the country, ahead of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.
The U.S. non-seasonal adjusted rate for August was 6.3 percent, down from 6.5 percent in July and down from 7.3 percent in August 2013.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates of local unemployment statistics released Wednesday placed unemployment in Green County at 4.1 percent and in Lafayette County at 4 percent. The last time the counties saw August unemployment that low in Green County was 2007 when the rate was 4.1 percent, and in Lafayette County in 2008 when the rate was 3.9 percent.
Green County had 4.8 percent unemployment in July 2014 and 5.3 percent in August 2013. Lafayette County had 4.6 percent unemployment in July and 5.2 percent a year ago.
However, the labor forces were also lower compared to July. Workforce is the total number of people employed and of those collecting unemployment insurance.
Green County had about 20,560, or 110 fewer, people in the workforce compared to July. About 160 people came off unemployment insurance, but 50 people were added to the employed. A total of more than 19,720 people were employed. The August 2013 work force was about the same as this year, but only about 19,470 people had jobs.
Lafayette County also had a smaller August workforce of about 9,130 people, which was 75 fewer people compared to July; 60 people came off unemployment insurance, and 15 left the ranks of the employed. A total of about 8,770 people were employed. Last year, the August workforce was 9,170, when 8,700 people had jobs.
August unemployment rates decreased in all 72 Wisconsin counties compared to rates in July, and they decreased in all but Burnett County, which had no change, compared to August 2013 rates. The August rates ranged from 3.4 percent in Pierce to 15.3 percent in Menominee.
Dane County was at 3.5 percent, down from 4 percent in July and from 4.6 percent in August 2013. Iowa County also had 3.5 percent unemployment, down from 4.3 percent in July and 5.0 percent in August 2013. Dane, Iowa, Lafayette and Green were ranked among the 10 counties with the lowest unemployment rates.
Rock County hit 5.9 percent, down from 6.7 percent in July and 7.5 percent a year ago. Rock remains ranked among the counties with the highest unemployment rates, but it is also one of nine counties that have lowered their unemployment rates by more than 1.5 percentage points in the past year.
Preliminary August unemployment rates for Metropolitan Statistical Areas decreased in all 12 metro areas compared to July rates. The August rates decreased in all metro areas by a full percentage point or more compared to August 2013 rates. The August rates ranged from 3.6 percent in metro Madison to 6.7 percent in metro Racine.
Preliminary August rates decreased in all of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities compared to rates in July. The August rates also decreased in all 32 municipalities compared to August 2013 rates, dropping by nearly 2 percentage points or more in eight municipalities, including Beloit and Milwaukee. The latest August rates ranged from 2.8 percent in Caledonia to 9.6 percent in Racine.
Local statistics are not seasonally adjusted.
Without seasonal adjustments, Wisconsin's August rate was 5.1 percent, down from 5.8 percent in July and down from 6.4 percent in August 2013. Overall, state employment at 2.95 million was down by 4,400 jobs compared to July, but up by 54,400 jobs since August 2013. The state's seasonally adjusted, 12-month gain of 38,800 in total nonfarm jobs ranked 21st highest in the country, ahead of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.
The U.S. non-seasonal adjusted rate for August was 6.3 percent, down from 6.5 percent in July and down from 7.3 percent in August 2013.