MADISON - Local unemployment statistics released Thursday, Jan. 30 by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development create an opportunity to look back over the year and to compare 2013 employment numbers with previous years.
Green County was one of only 13 Wisconsin counties whose unemployment rates decreased last month, while Lafayette County saw an increase. But both changes were slight - only 0.1 percentage point - compared to November rates. Seven counties saw no change in unemployment rates.
Local statistics are not seasonally adjusted, and the new numbers include revisions for November and preliminary estimates for December.
Green County unemployment rate in December was 4.6 percent, and Lafayette County was at 4.5 percent.
December 2013 rates ranged from 3.8 percent in Dane to 13.3 percent in Iron.
The December changes place Green and Lafayette counties in the top 10 counties ranked by lowest unemployment rates for the month. Dane is in first place with 3.8 percent unemployment, after a 0.2 percentage point drop. Iowa County came in at 17th place, losing a half point to end at 5.1 percent. Rock is at the 47th spot with 7 percent unemployment and no change from November's rate.
Compared to December 2012, the latest rates decreased in all but three counties: Buffalo, Florence and Iron.
In December 2012, Green County had 5.5 percent unemployment, and Lafayette had 4.9 percent. Dane was at 4.4 percent, Iowa was at 5.8 percent, and Rock was at 7.9 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's December rate was 5.8 percent, unchanged from November and down from 6.6 percent in December 2012. The U.S. rate was 6.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent in November and down from 7.6 percent in December 2012.
Trending since 2010
In a look back at 2013, compared to 2012, Green County started both years at the same unemployment rate, 7.5 percent, but ended 2013 nearly one percentage point lower than in December 2012. Lafayette County made even greater strides, starting 2013 at 7 percent, compared to 6.6 percent in 2012, and ending up 1.4 percentage points lower this December.
What is helping Green County employment, but what Lafayette County is missing out on, is the strengthening work force levels.
Green County's workforce levels were higher each month compared to the same month in 2012, except in March, when it was just 28 people lower. More people were working and fewer people were on unemployment insurance.
The county average workforce for 2013 was about 20,000, compared to 19,900 in 2010.
But Lafayette County has seen a struggle in maintaining its workforce levels over the past four years.
The county monthly unemployment rates have fallen from 8.9 percent in February 2010, but the labor force is losing workers. The county saw losses in eight out of 12 months in 2013 and added fewer than 75 people in three of the positive months, compared to 2012 monthly levels. Losing about 100 people a year, the 2013 average workforce of 9,100 is about 300 people fewer than in 2010, or about 3 percent lower.
But Lafayette County employment levels are stable - on average about 8,600-8,700 people are working every year. It is the unemployed numbers that are dropping, which means the unemployed have moved out of the county or out of the workforce.
The City of Janesville pulled away of Rock County's latest frozen unemployment rate of 7 percent. The city lowered its unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points from November to December, to reach 7.3 percent in December. Last December the city stood at 8.6 percent unemployed, and the county was at 7.9 percent.
In Madison, the unemployment rate came in at 3.7 percent, slightly lower than the Dane County at 3.8 percent. Both were at 4 percent in November. Last December the city was at 4.3 percent, and the county was at 4.4 percent.
Rates either decreased or remained the same in 27 of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities from November to December 2013. Compared to December 2012, rates decreased in all municipalities. December 2013 rates ranged from 3.1 percent in Caledonia to 10.7 percent in Racine.
Green County was one of only 13 Wisconsin counties whose unemployment rates decreased last month, while Lafayette County saw an increase. But both changes were slight - only 0.1 percentage point - compared to November rates. Seven counties saw no change in unemployment rates.
Local statistics are not seasonally adjusted, and the new numbers include revisions for November and preliminary estimates for December.
Green County unemployment rate in December was 4.6 percent, and Lafayette County was at 4.5 percent.
December 2013 rates ranged from 3.8 percent in Dane to 13.3 percent in Iron.
The December changes place Green and Lafayette counties in the top 10 counties ranked by lowest unemployment rates for the month. Dane is in first place with 3.8 percent unemployment, after a 0.2 percentage point drop. Iowa County came in at 17th place, losing a half point to end at 5.1 percent. Rock is at the 47th spot with 7 percent unemployment and no change from November's rate.
Compared to December 2012, the latest rates decreased in all but three counties: Buffalo, Florence and Iron.
In December 2012, Green County had 5.5 percent unemployment, and Lafayette had 4.9 percent. Dane was at 4.4 percent, Iowa was at 5.8 percent, and Rock was at 7.9 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's December rate was 5.8 percent, unchanged from November and down from 6.6 percent in December 2012. The U.S. rate was 6.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent in November and down from 7.6 percent in December 2012.
Trending since 2010
In a look back at 2013, compared to 2012, Green County started both years at the same unemployment rate, 7.5 percent, but ended 2013 nearly one percentage point lower than in December 2012. Lafayette County made even greater strides, starting 2013 at 7 percent, compared to 6.6 percent in 2012, and ending up 1.4 percentage points lower this December.
What is helping Green County employment, but what Lafayette County is missing out on, is the strengthening work force levels.
Green County's workforce levels were higher each month compared to the same month in 2012, except in March, when it was just 28 people lower. More people were working and fewer people were on unemployment insurance.
The county average workforce for 2013 was about 20,000, compared to 19,900 in 2010.
But Lafayette County has seen a struggle in maintaining its workforce levels over the past four years.
The county monthly unemployment rates have fallen from 8.9 percent in February 2010, but the labor force is losing workers. The county saw losses in eight out of 12 months in 2013 and added fewer than 75 people in three of the positive months, compared to 2012 monthly levels. Losing about 100 people a year, the 2013 average workforce of 9,100 is about 300 people fewer than in 2010, or about 3 percent lower.
But Lafayette County employment levels are stable - on average about 8,600-8,700 people are working every year. It is the unemployed numbers that are dropping, which means the unemployed have moved out of the county or out of the workforce.
The City of Janesville pulled away of Rock County's latest frozen unemployment rate of 7 percent. The city lowered its unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points from November to December, to reach 7.3 percent in December. Last December the city stood at 8.6 percent unemployed, and the county was at 7.9 percent.
In Madison, the unemployment rate came in at 3.7 percent, slightly lower than the Dane County at 3.8 percent. Both were at 4 percent in November. Last December the city was at 4.3 percent, and the county was at 4.4 percent.
Rates either decreased or remained the same in 27 of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities from November to December 2013. Compared to December 2012, rates decreased in all municipalities. December 2013 rates ranged from 3.1 percent in Caledonia to 10.7 percent in Racine.