MONROE — The state’s unemployment picture continues to brighten and Green and Lafayette Counties are no exception.

“Thanks to continued job growth, Wisconsin’s preliminary unemployment rate in March 2022 has declined to a record low of 2.8 percent,” said Department of Workforce Development Secretary-Designee Amy Pechacek.

The total number of people employed has increased by more than 60,000 and the total number of people counted as unemployed has declined by more than 47,000 from March 2021 to March 2022, officials said.

Local unemployment numbers haven’s been released for March but the February numbers show the positive trend in Green and Lafayette Counties.

In February, of this year, Green County unemployment stood at 3 percent, compared to 2.9 percent in January and 4.3 percent in in January, 2021. In Lafayette County, the February rate was 2.9 percent, compared to 2.4 percent in January and 4 percent in January 2021. At that time, Lafayette County’s unemployment rate was the third highest in Wisconsin.