MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently announced new record-high employment during December 2024, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
And the numbers show Lafayette and Green Counties nearly leading the state — in second and third place, respectively — for low unemployment. The only county with better numbers was Dane. It has been a trend in recent years for the two counties to be in at least the top five of all 72 counties in the state.
Green County logged an unemployment rate of 2.2% in the recent statistics, compared to 2.0 for last month, and 2.1% a year ago. Second-in-the-state Lafayette, meanwhile, logged 2.1% for December, compared to 1.8% for November and 2.1% in December, 2023. Rock County came in 29th of Wisconsin counties, with a 2.9% rate, up from 2.7% last in November but down from December, 2023’s 3.1%.
State-wide trend
Overall, preliminary employment estimates for December 2024 showed the state-wide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up to 3.0%, which is 1.1 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.1%.
Other highlights of the latest report:
● Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.0% in December, 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 4.1%. Wisconsin’s labor force increased by 5,000 over the month and 20,100 over the year. The number of people employed increased 2,500 over the month to a record-high 3,076,500 employed.
● Place of Work Data: Total nonfarm jobs decreased 1,200 over the month and increased 20,300 over the year to 3,042,100 jobs.
● Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary December 2024 unemployment rates increased between 0.1 and 0.5 percentage points in 11 metropolitan areas over the month while staying the same in one; rates decreased or stayed the same in seven areas over the year.
● Municipalities: Preliminary December 2024 unemployment rates decreased or stayed the same in 13 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities over the month; rates decreased or stayed the same in 22 cities over the year.
● Counties: Preliminary December 2024 unemployment rates stayed the same in Dane and Milwaukee counties over the month and increased elsewhere; rates decreased or stayed the same in 55 counties over the year.
Unemployment and taxes
In other unemployment related news, DWD is reminding state residents who received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits last year that they must report them as taxable income on their 2024 tax returns; and that their 1099-G income tax statements for the year are easily accessible through UI’s secure and confidential claimant portal.
Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income for both federal and state income taxes, and the 1099-G form shows the amount of UI benefits a claimant received during the previous year.
To access 1099-G tax statements, claimants can log on to their claimant portal account and follow a few easy steps to obtain an electronic copy of their 2024 benefit payment records. In some cases, individuals may need to verify their identity to access to their tax statements.
— Gary Mays