MONROE - Unemployment rates in Green and Lafayette counties dropped in March after rising the previous two months, according to data released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Green County unemployment dropped to 7.6 percent in March, down from 7.9 percent in February. Lafayette County unemployment was 6.5 percent in March, down from the February rate of 7.2 percent.
The monthly rise and fall of 2012 unemployment rates in both counties appear to be following a trend similar to early 2011; although the rates are nearly one percentage point lower than a year ago. Green County had 8.4 percent unemployment in March 2011, and Lafayette County had 7.4 percent.
In addition to a drop in unemployment numbers, both counties saw a rise in the total labor force in March, and the number of people working increased more than the number who came off unemployment.
Compared to a year ago, March unemployment rates were lower in all major Wisconsin cities, all metro areas and all but three counties, according to Wisconsin DWD Secretary Reggie Newson.
In surrounding counties, Rock dropped to 9.2 percent unemployment; Dane to 5 percent; Iowa to 8 percent; and Grant to 6.4 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, the state's March unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, down from 7.9 percent in February and down from 8.3 percent in March 2011. The U.S. rate was 8.4 percent, down from 8.7 percent in February and down from 9.2 percent in March 2011.
The March numbers for counties, metro areas and municipalities are preliminary, not seasonally adjusted and subject to revision within the next several weeks.
Madison had a rate of 4.7 percent; Fitchburg had 5.4 percent; and Janesville dropped six-tenths of a percentage point to 9.7 percent.
In the broader metro areas, Janesville, at 9.2 percent, had the highest rate in the state and Madison had the lowest at 5.3 percent.
All 12 Wisconsin metro areas had lower rates in March compared to February 2012 and March 2011. Janesville is down 1.3 percentage points than March 2011, when it had 10.5 percent unemployment; Madison is one-half percentage point lower than a year ago.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Madison added 1,000 jobs and Janesville added 600 over the month of March.
Green County unemployment dropped to 7.6 percent in March, down from 7.9 percent in February. Lafayette County unemployment was 6.5 percent in March, down from the February rate of 7.2 percent.
The monthly rise and fall of 2012 unemployment rates in both counties appear to be following a trend similar to early 2011; although the rates are nearly one percentage point lower than a year ago. Green County had 8.4 percent unemployment in March 2011, and Lafayette County had 7.4 percent.
In addition to a drop in unemployment numbers, both counties saw a rise in the total labor force in March, and the number of people working increased more than the number who came off unemployment.
Compared to a year ago, March unemployment rates were lower in all major Wisconsin cities, all metro areas and all but three counties, according to Wisconsin DWD Secretary Reggie Newson.
In surrounding counties, Rock dropped to 9.2 percent unemployment; Dane to 5 percent; Iowa to 8 percent; and Grant to 6.4 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, the state's March unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, down from 7.9 percent in February and down from 8.3 percent in March 2011. The U.S. rate was 8.4 percent, down from 8.7 percent in February and down from 9.2 percent in March 2011.
The March numbers for counties, metro areas and municipalities are preliminary, not seasonally adjusted and subject to revision within the next several weeks.
Madison had a rate of 4.7 percent; Fitchburg had 5.4 percent; and Janesville dropped six-tenths of a percentage point to 9.7 percent.
In the broader metro areas, Janesville, at 9.2 percent, had the highest rate in the state and Madison had the lowest at 5.3 percent.
All 12 Wisconsin metro areas had lower rates in March compared to February 2012 and March 2011. Janesville is down 1.3 percentage points than March 2011, when it had 10.5 percent unemployment; Madison is one-half percentage point lower than a year ago.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Madison added 1,000 jobs and Janesville added 600 over the month of March.