MONROE - Monthly unemployment rates were up slightly again for Green and Lafayette counties in February, but still better than last year, according to the latest report from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Green County's unemployment rate rose one-half percentage point, from 7.4 percent in January to 7.9 percent. The rate was 8.6 percent in February 2011.
Lafayette County's rate rose from 6.5 percent in January to 7.2 percent. The county's rate was 7.9 percent one year ago.
Both counties saw rates rise two-tenths of a percentage point between January and February in 2011, before falling slightly again in March 2011.
County numbers are reported without seasonal adjustments.
The state's February rate, without seasonal adjustments, was 7.9 percent, up from 7.6 percent in January and down from 8.6 percent in February 2011. Without seasonal adjustment, the U.S. rate was 8.7 percent, down from 8.8 percent in January and down from 9.5 percent in February 2011.
Sixty-six Wisconsin counties had higher rates in February compared to January. Florence, Iron and Oconto had slight decreases. Burnett, Columbia and Forest had no change. Dane County had the lowest rate at 5.2 percent, up from 4.9 percent. Door County had the highest rate, 13.8 percent, up from 13.8 percent.
Sixty-eight counties had lower rates in February 2012 than February 2011. Bayfield and Iron counties experienced increases. Portage and Sawyer had no change.
The story is the same for metro areas. All 12 metro areas had lower rates in February than the same month a year ago and higher rates than a month ago.
The Janesville metro area had the highest rate in February at 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent in January. The unemployment rate was 10.9 percent a year ago.
Madison metro had the lowest at 5.6 percent, up from 5.3 percent in January but still below the 6 percent in February 2011.
Metro Sheboygan showed the largest year-over-year decrease, dropping to 7.6 percent from 9.0 percent in February 2011.
Seven metro areas added jobs over the month on a seasonally adjusted basis, including Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Racine and Milwaukee, which includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.
Unemployment in the City of Janesville stood at 11.3 percent in February 2011. Last month it was at 10.3 percent, after a four-tenths percentage rise from January's rate of 9.9 percent.
Madison's rate continues to hover around 5 percent. The city had 4.8 percent unemployment in February, up two-tenths from January, and still below 5.1 percent in February 2011.
Of 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 27 had rate increases over the previous month while 31 had decreases when compared to February 2011. Only Stevens Point had an increase over the year, its 9.1 percent up from 8.8 a year ago. Caledonia had the lowest February 2012 rate, 3.7 percent, down from 3.9 percent, while Beloit had the highest at 12.5 percent, down from 14.3 percent last year.
The January numbers are preliminary and are subject to revision within the next several weeks
"In nearly every county and community, unemployment rates are lower than a year ago," DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said. "We expect further improvement as the hiring season progresses. We know from employer surveys and our online job site that employers have jobs available."
Secretary Newson said job openings on www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com topped 36,000 statewide last week. A record 151,000 jobs were posted in 2011. Manufacturing, sales, healthcare and transportation are among the employment sectors with the most openings.
-Tere Dunlap
Green County's unemployment rate rose one-half percentage point, from 7.4 percent in January to 7.9 percent. The rate was 8.6 percent in February 2011.
Lafayette County's rate rose from 6.5 percent in January to 7.2 percent. The county's rate was 7.9 percent one year ago.
Both counties saw rates rise two-tenths of a percentage point between January and February in 2011, before falling slightly again in March 2011.
County numbers are reported without seasonal adjustments.
The state's February rate, without seasonal adjustments, was 7.9 percent, up from 7.6 percent in January and down from 8.6 percent in February 2011. Without seasonal adjustment, the U.S. rate was 8.7 percent, down from 8.8 percent in January and down from 9.5 percent in February 2011.
Sixty-six Wisconsin counties had higher rates in February compared to January. Florence, Iron and Oconto had slight decreases. Burnett, Columbia and Forest had no change. Dane County had the lowest rate at 5.2 percent, up from 4.9 percent. Door County had the highest rate, 13.8 percent, up from 13.8 percent.
Sixty-eight counties had lower rates in February 2012 than February 2011. Bayfield and Iron counties experienced increases. Portage and Sawyer had no change.
The story is the same for metro areas. All 12 metro areas had lower rates in February than the same month a year ago and higher rates than a month ago.
The Janesville metro area had the highest rate in February at 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent in January. The unemployment rate was 10.9 percent a year ago.
Madison metro had the lowest at 5.6 percent, up from 5.3 percent in January but still below the 6 percent in February 2011.
Metro Sheboygan showed the largest year-over-year decrease, dropping to 7.6 percent from 9.0 percent in February 2011.
Seven metro areas added jobs over the month on a seasonally adjusted basis, including Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Racine and Milwaukee, which includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties.
Unemployment in the City of Janesville stood at 11.3 percent in February 2011. Last month it was at 10.3 percent, after a four-tenths percentage rise from January's rate of 9.9 percent.
Madison's rate continues to hover around 5 percent. The city had 4.8 percent unemployment in February, up two-tenths from January, and still below 5.1 percent in February 2011.
Of 32 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 27 had rate increases over the previous month while 31 had decreases when compared to February 2011. Only Stevens Point had an increase over the year, its 9.1 percent up from 8.8 a year ago. Caledonia had the lowest February 2012 rate, 3.7 percent, down from 3.9 percent, while Beloit had the highest at 12.5 percent, down from 14.3 percent last year.
The January numbers are preliminary and are subject to revision within the next several weeks
"In nearly every county and community, unemployment rates are lower than a year ago," DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said. "We expect further improvement as the hiring season progresses. We know from employer surveys and our online job site that employers have jobs available."
Secretary Newson said job openings on www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com topped 36,000 statewide last week. A record 151,000 jobs were posted in 2011. Manufacturing, sales, healthcare and transportation are among the employment sectors with the most openings.
-Tere Dunlap