MONROE — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced on Aug. 15 a new record high for employment during July 2024, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the third consecutive monthly record for state employment, highlighting Wisconsin’s record- breaking economic performance. Days after the announcement, DWD released its localized data from July.

Preliminary employment estimates for July 2024 showed Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0%, which is 1.3 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. The state’s labor force participation rate held steady at 65.5% in July while the national rate was 62.7%.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised its June employment numbers. The U.S. had a seasonably adjusted unemployment rate of 4.1% in June 2024 and 4.3% in July. The July 2024 number is 0.8% higher than the same time in 2023.

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate in July 2024 is 3.0%, up from 2.9% in June, but down 0.2% from 2023.

Lafayette County paced the state yet again, with a July 2024 unemployment rate of 2.4% — the same as June and slightly up from 2.3% in 2023. Green County was tied for second in the state with Door and Pepin counties at 2.5% in July 2024, which is the same rate Green had in June and down 0.1% from a year ago.

Menominee County had the state’s highest unemployment rate for July 2024 at 6.2%, down 0.1% from June and much further below the July 2023 mark of 9.6%.

Additional information about the data included in the release is available at Wisconomy.com.

Quick numbers

●  Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.0% in July, 1.3 percentage points below the national rate of 4.3%. Wisconsin’s labor force increased 2,800 over the month and increased 1,800 over the year. The number of people employed increased 1,300 over the month to a record-high 3,049,700 employed.

●  Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs decreased 6,500 over the month and increased 25,700 over the year to 3,035,100 jobs. Private sector jobs decreased 8,500 over the month and increased 17,900 over the year to 2,625,700 private jobs.

●  Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary July 2024 unemployment rates decreased or stayed the same in nine of 12 metropolitan areas over the month; rates decreased or stayed the same in six areas over the year.

●  Municipalities: Preliminary July 2024 unemployment rates decreased or stayed the same in 24 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month; rates decreased or stayed the same in 22 cities over the year.

●  Counties: Preliminary July 2024 unemployment rates decreased or stayed the same in 45 of 72 counties over the month; rates decreased or stayed the same in 44 counties over the year.