MONROE - Gains made in lowering unemployment rates since summer in Green and Lafayette counties were lost last month.
December unemployment rates for Wisconsin counties released by the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Wednesday show Green County back up to its September and October rate of 7.8 percent, after a .4 percent dip in November.
Lafayette County, at 6.7 percent, bounced up almost to its August level of 6.8 percent, after managing to drop to 5.9 and 6 percent between September and November."I agree with the Department of Workforce Development secretary's (Roberta Gassman) assessment that the rates 'underscore the challenges we face,'" said Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation. "Green County's rate, at 7.8 percent, represents an improvement from a few months ago, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace. GCDC continues to do all we can to assist new and existing businesses reduce costs and secure new customers, so that they are able to provide new jobs for those unemployed."
Green And Lafayette counties saw their highest 2009 unemployment rates in March, with Green County at 9.8 percent and Lafayette at 8.6 percent.
The rates do not reflect seasonal adjustments.
Green and Lafayette counties' rates are not unique. According to a DWD press release, 69 Wisconsin counties had an increased unemployment rate in December.
Menominee County, with no change, remained the highest ranked county with 12.2 percent unemployment.
Two counties saw decreases: Florence County, from 10.6 in November to 10.4 percent in December, and Kenosha from 10.5 to 10.3 percent.
Last month nine counties had unemployment rates of 10 percent or more. In December, that number increased to 25 counties.
Dane remains the lowest ranked county with 5.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in November, and is the only county below 6 percent.
All Wisconsin counties had an annual increase in unemployment in 2009.
In southern Wisconsin, the Janesville metropolitan area jumped to 11.0 percent in December, from 8.1 percent a year ago. The Madison metropolitan area increased to 5.8 percent, from 4.1 percent a year ago.
The unemployment rate in Wisconsin reported Jan. 21 by DWD increased to 8.3 percent in December, 2.5 percentage points higher than a year ago and 0.4 percentage points above November.
Wisconsin has lost 120,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
The national unemployment rate for December was 9.7 percent, which is 2.6 percent higher than a year ago, when it was 7.1 percent.
December unemployment rates for Wisconsin counties released by the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Wednesday show Green County back up to its September and October rate of 7.8 percent, after a .4 percent dip in November.
Lafayette County, at 6.7 percent, bounced up almost to its August level of 6.8 percent, after managing to drop to 5.9 and 6 percent between September and November."I agree with the Department of Workforce Development secretary's (Roberta Gassman) assessment that the rates 'underscore the challenges we face,'" said Anna Schramke, executive director of Green County Development Corporation. "Green County's rate, at 7.8 percent, represents an improvement from a few months ago, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace. GCDC continues to do all we can to assist new and existing businesses reduce costs and secure new customers, so that they are able to provide new jobs for those unemployed."
Green And Lafayette counties saw their highest 2009 unemployment rates in March, with Green County at 9.8 percent and Lafayette at 8.6 percent.
The rates do not reflect seasonal adjustments.
Green and Lafayette counties' rates are not unique. According to a DWD press release, 69 Wisconsin counties had an increased unemployment rate in December.
Menominee County, with no change, remained the highest ranked county with 12.2 percent unemployment.
Two counties saw decreases: Florence County, from 10.6 in November to 10.4 percent in December, and Kenosha from 10.5 to 10.3 percent.
Last month nine counties had unemployment rates of 10 percent or more. In December, that number increased to 25 counties.
Dane remains the lowest ranked county with 5.4 percent, up from 5.2 percent in November, and is the only county below 6 percent.
All Wisconsin counties had an annual increase in unemployment in 2009.
In southern Wisconsin, the Janesville metropolitan area jumped to 11.0 percent in December, from 8.1 percent a year ago. The Madison metropolitan area increased to 5.8 percent, from 4.1 percent a year ago.
The unemployment rate in Wisconsin reported Jan. 21 by DWD increased to 8.3 percent in December, 2.5 percentage points higher than a year ago and 0.4 percentage points above November.
Wisconsin has lost 120,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
The national unemployment rate for December was 9.7 percent, which is 2.6 percent higher than a year ago, when it was 7.1 percent.