MADISON - For the first time in months, the unemployment news was better in April for Green and Lafayette counties. The unemployment rate in both counties dropped last month.
In Green County, the jobless rate dropped from 9.8 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April. That's the good news. The bad news is that the rate was 4.2 percent in April 2008.
Lafayette County's unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 percent in March to 7.2 percent in April. It was 3.6 percent a year ago.
The improvements locally were seen throughout most of the state.
Numbers released Wednesday by the Department of Workforce Development show joblessness went down in April in all 12 of Wisconsin's largest cities.
The Janesville metropolitan area continued to have the highest unemployment rate at 12.9 percent. That was down slightly from 13.6 percent. The second highest was in the Racine area at 10.6 percent.
The Madison area has the lowest rate at 6 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped from 9.4 percent in March to 8.8 percent last month. That equates to nearly 272,000 people without jobs. The state rate is just above national unemployment of 8.6 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 64 of 72 Wisconsin counties in April.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
In Green County, the jobless rate dropped from 9.8 percent in March to 9.2 percent in April. That's the good news. The bad news is that the rate was 4.2 percent in April 2008.
Lafayette County's unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 percent in March to 7.2 percent in April. It was 3.6 percent a year ago.
The improvements locally were seen throughout most of the state.
Numbers released Wednesday by the Department of Workforce Development show joblessness went down in April in all 12 of Wisconsin's largest cities.
The Janesville metropolitan area continued to have the highest unemployment rate at 12.9 percent. That was down slightly from 13.6 percent. The second highest was in the Racine area at 10.6 percent.
The Madison area has the lowest rate at 6 percent.
Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped from 9.4 percent in March to 8.8 percent last month. That equates to nearly 272,000 people without jobs. The state rate is just above national unemployment of 8.6 percent. Unemployment rates decreased in 64 of 72 Wisconsin counties in April.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.