MONROE - Lafayette County saw an uptick in its unemployment rate last month, compared to April rates, while Green County remained steady, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary estimates released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
Lafayette County unemployment rose to 5.5 percent in May, up 0.3 percentage points from 5.2 percent in April. The county had 5.8 percent unemployment in May 2011.
Green County's unemployment rate held at 6.5 percent in May and April, down from 7.6 percent in March. Its unemployment rate in May 2011 was 6.9 percent.
Green and Lafayette counties' 2012 monthly unemployment rates continue to be their lowest year over year since 2008.
Thirty of Wisconsin's 72 counties saw rate increases of 0.1 to 0.6 points in May, including counties surrounding Green and Lafayette. Rock County is up 0.1 point to 8.4 percent; Dane is up 0.4 point to 4.7 percent; and Grant is up 0.3 points to 5.6 percent.
Iowa County had a drop of 0.1 percentage point to 5.8 percent for May. Thirty-five other counties also had decreases in unemployment rates by as much as 2.2 percent in Vilas and 2.0 percent in Bayfield. Both Vilas and Bayfield still have unemployment rates of more than 9 percent, well above the state average of 6.8 percent, without seasonal adjustments.
County rates ranged from 4.7 percent in Dane to 15.1 percent in Menominee.
County rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The state's unadjusted May rate (6.8), unchanged from April, is down from 7.3 percent in May 2011. Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was also 6.8 percent, up slightly from 6.7 percent in April. In May 2011, the rate was 7.6 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, the U.S. rate was 7.9 percent, up from 7.7 percent in April and down from 8.7 percent in May 2011. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up slightly from 8.1 percent in April and down from 9.0 percent in May 2011.
Preliminary unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) declined in all 12 Wisconsin metro areas year over year. The May 2012 rates ranged from 4.9 percent in metro Madison to 8.4 percent in metro Janesville.
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 (0.06 percent), called the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Tere Dunlap
Lafayette County unemployment rose to 5.5 percent in May, up 0.3 percentage points from 5.2 percent in April. The county had 5.8 percent unemployment in May 2011.
Green County's unemployment rate held at 6.5 percent in May and April, down from 7.6 percent in March. Its unemployment rate in May 2011 was 6.9 percent.
Green and Lafayette counties' 2012 monthly unemployment rates continue to be their lowest year over year since 2008.
Thirty of Wisconsin's 72 counties saw rate increases of 0.1 to 0.6 points in May, including counties surrounding Green and Lafayette. Rock County is up 0.1 point to 8.4 percent; Dane is up 0.4 point to 4.7 percent; and Grant is up 0.3 points to 5.6 percent.
Iowa County had a drop of 0.1 percentage point to 5.8 percent for May. Thirty-five other counties also had decreases in unemployment rates by as much as 2.2 percent in Vilas and 2.0 percent in Bayfield. Both Vilas and Bayfield still have unemployment rates of more than 9 percent, well above the state average of 6.8 percent, without seasonal adjustments.
County rates ranged from 4.7 percent in Dane to 15.1 percent in Menominee.
County rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The state's unadjusted May rate (6.8), unchanged from April, is down from 7.3 percent in May 2011. Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was also 6.8 percent, up slightly from 6.7 percent in April. In May 2011, the rate was 7.6 percent.
Without seasonal adjustment, the U.S. rate was 7.9 percent, up from 7.7 percent in April and down from 8.7 percent in May 2011. The U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up slightly from 8.1 percent in April and down from 9.0 percent in May 2011.
Preliminary unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) declined in all 12 Wisconsin metro areas year over year. The May 2012 rates ranged from 4.9 percent in metro Madison to 8.4 percent in metro Janesville.
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 (0.06 percent), called the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Tere Dunlap