MADISON - County unemployment rates across most of the state continued to fall in May.
Rates decreased in all but three of Wisconsin's 72 counties compared to rates in April 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates of unemployment and employment statistics, released Wednesday by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Green County came in at 4.9 percent, one-half point below its April rate of 5.4 percent. The county had 6 percent unemployment in May 2013.
Lafayette County's rate fell slightly more, from 4.9 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May. It was 5.2 percent a year ago.
The May 2014 rates ranged from 3.8 percent in Dane and Pierce to 15.1 percent in Menominee. Dane, Milwaukee and Ozaukee had no change month-to-month. Dane was at 4.7 percent a year ago.
Rock County dropped 0.3 percentage point, from 6.8 in April to 6.5 in May. It was at 7.7 percent a year ago.
Iowa County dropped almost a full point, landing at 4.7 percent in May from 5.6 percent in April. Its rate was also 5.6 percent in May 2013.
Rates in all but two counties decreased compared to May 2013. Iron County is now just 0.1 point higher than a year ago, with 11.3 percent unemployment in May, a 2-point drop since April. Menominee's rate, at 15.1 percent, increased 0.6 point from April to May and is 1.6 points higher than 13.5 percent in May 2013.
Preliminary May 2014 rates decreased or remained the same in 23 of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities from rates in April 2014, and they decreased in all 32 municipalities compared to rates in May 2013. The latest rates ranged from 3.2 percent in Caledonia to 9.7 percent in Racine.
Janesville's unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in May, down from 7.2 percent in April and 8.1 percent a year ago. The city of Madison's rate rose in May to 3.9 percent, up from 3.7 percent in April. Madison had a rate of 4.7 percent in May 2013.
All 12 metro areas saw decreases in May compared to a year ago. Rates decreased in 10 metro areas and remained the same in two, including Madison metro, compared to April 2014. May rates ranged from 4 percent in metro Madison to 7 percent in metro Racine.
Janesville metro dropped 0.3 points to 6.5 percent from April to May. Its rate was 7.7 percent a year ago. Madison remained at 4 percent month-to-month and was down from 4.8 percent a year ago.
County, city and metro rates are not seasonally adjusted. Local Area Unemployment Statistics are compiled from a monthly survey of 1,450 households and measures the labor force, employment, unemployment and the unemployment rate.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's May rate was 5.5 percent, down from 5.9 percent in April and down from 6.5 percent in May 2013. The U.S. unadjusted rate for May was 6.1 percent, up from 5.9 percent in April and down from 7.3 percent in May 2013.
Wisconsin's preliminary, seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.7 percent in May - its lowest point since October 2008. Wisconsin's unemployment rate has fallen for 10 consecutive months.
Rates decreased in all but three of Wisconsin's 72 counties compared to rates in April 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates of unemployment and employment statistics, released Wednesday by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
Green County came in at 4.9 percent, one-half point below its April rate of 5.4 percent. The county had 6 percent unemployment in May 2013.
Lafayette County's rate fell slightly more, from 4.9 percent in April to 4.3 percent in May. It was 5.2 percent a year ago.
The May 2014 rates ranged from 3.8 percent in Dane and Pierce to 15.1 percent in Menominee. Dane, Milwaukee and Ozaukee had no change month-to-month. Dane was at 4.7 percent a year ago.
Rock County dropped 0.3 percentage point, from 6.8 in April to 6.5 in May. It was at 7.7 percent a year ago.
Iowa County dropped almost a full point, landing at 4.7 percent in May from 5.6 percent in April. Its rate was also 5.6 percent in May 2013.
Rates in all but two counties decreased compared to May 2013. Iron County is now just 0.1 point higher than a year ago, with 11.3 percent unemployment in May, a 2-point drop since April. Menominee's rate, at 15.1 percent, increased 0.6 point from April to May and is 1.6 points higher than 13.5 percent in May 2013.
Preliminary May 2014 rates decreased or remained the same in 23 of Wisconsin's 32 largest municipalities from rates in April 2014, and they decreased in all 32 municipalities compared to rates in May 2013. The latest rates ranged from 3.2 percent in Caledonia to 9.7 percent in Racine.
Janesville's unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in May, down from 7.2 percent in April and 8.1 percent a year ago. The city of Madison's rate rose in May to 3.9 percent, up from 3.7 percent in April. Madison had a rate of 4.7 percent in May 2013.
All 12 metro areas saw decreases in May compared to a year ago. Rates decreased in 10 metro areas and remained the same in two, including Madison metro, compared to April 2014. May rates ranged from 4 percent in metro Madison to 7 percent in metro Racine.
Janesville metro dropped 0.3 points to 6.5 percent from April to May. Its rate was 7.7 percent a year ago. Madison remained at 4 percent month-to-month and was down from 4.8 percent a year ago.
County, city and metro rates are not seasonally adjusted. Local Area Unemployment Statistics are compiled from a monthly survey of 1,450 households and measures the labor force, employment, unemployment and the unemployment rate.
Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin's May rate was 5.5 percent, down from 5.9 percent in April and down from 6.5 percent in May 2013. The U.S. unadjusted rate for May was 6.1 percent, up from 5.9 percent in April and down from 7.3 percent in May 2013.
Wisconsin's preliminary, seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.7 percent in May - its lowest point since October 2008. Wisconsin's unemployment rate has fallen for 10 consecutive months.