MONROE - Green and Lafayette counties managed to stay out of the trickling rise in unemployment rates last month.
Both counties, along with 13 others, managed a one-tenth decrease in their unemployment rates from November to December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly report for December 2011, released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
Green's unemployment rate inched down to 5.8 percent, and Lafayette went to 5 percent. Lafayette, Grant and Calumet counties tied for third lowest rate, 5 percent, in the state for December. La Crosse was 4.9 percent and Dane, 4.4 percent. Green County is ranked 19th for the lowest rate.
Rock County came in at 8.3 percent and Iowa County at 5.7 percent.
Nineteen of Wisconsin's 72 counties had lower rates, and nine had no change. Menominee's rate dropped the most, 2.4 percent, from 13.5 to 11.1 percent. It is the third highest rate in the state, but still under the December 2010 rate of 11.2 percent.
Rates in both Green and Lafayette counties were eight-tenths of a percent lower than in December 2010. Last December, Green stood at 6.6 percent and Lafayette at 5.8 percent.
While 44 counties saw slight unemployment rate increases last month, up 1 percent in Vilas and 1.1 percent in Pepin, rates were still lower than a year ago in all counties, except Door and Bayfield counties. Door, at 11.7 percent, is up from 10.9 percent in December 2010; Bayfield, at 11.3 percent, is also up slightly from 11.0 percent a year ago.
Among the state's 12 metro areas, Janesville metro still had the highest rate at 8.3 percent, after a one-tenth decrease from November. Madison metro had the lowest at 4.7 percent, unchanged from November. Compared to a year ago, all 12 metro areas had lower rates; the Janesville metro rate dropped a full percentage point.
Six metros areas experienced slight decreases in their unemployment rates from November to December, while three had no change and three had minor increases.
Of the 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 25 had declining rates, and three, no change in rates from November to December.
The City of Janesville lowered its unemployment rate by six-tenth of a percent, from 9.4 percent in November to 8.8 percent in December, and by two-tenths of a point from 9.6 percent a year ago. Madison pushed its rate down two-tenths last month to 4.2 percent. The city had a 4.4 percent unemployment rate in November 2011 and in December 2010.
Caledonia had the lowest rate, 3.0 percent, last month, while Racine, the highest rate, at 11.2 percent. Compared to a year ago, 30 cities had lower rates; Oshkosh had a slight increase.
Both counties, along with 13 others, managed a one-tenth decrease in their unemployment rates from November to December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly report for December 2011, released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
Green's unemployment rate inched down to 5.8 percent, and Lafayette went to 5 percent. Lafayette, Grant and Calumet counties tied for third lowest rate, 5 percent, in the state for December. La Crosse was 4.9 percent and Dane, 4.4 percent. Green County is ranked 19th for the lowest rate.
Rock County came in at 8.3 percent and Iowa County at 5.7 percent.
Nineteen of Wisconsin's 72 counties had lower rates, and nine had no change. Menominee's rate dropped the most, 2.4 percent, from 13.5 to 11.1 percent. It is the third highest rate in the state, but still under the December 2010 rate of 11.2 percent.
Rates in both Green and Lafayette counties were eight-tenths of a percent lower than in December 2010. Last December, Green stood at 6.6 percent and Lafayette at 5.8 percent.
While 44 counties saw slight unemployment rate increases last month, up 1 percent in Vilas and 1.1 percent in Pepin, rates were still lower than a year ago in all counties, except Door and Bayfield counties. Door, at 11.7 percent, is up from 10.9 percent in December 2010; Bayfield, at 11.3 percent, is also up slightly from 11.0 percent a year ago.
Among the state's 12 metro areas, Janesville metro still had the highest rate at 8.3 percent, after a one-tenth decrease from November. Madison metro had the lowest at 4.7 percent, unchanged from November. Compared to a year ago, all 12 metro areas had lower rates; the Janesville metro rate dropped a full percentage point.
Six metros areas experienced slight decreases in their unemployment rates from November to December, while three had no change and three had minor increases.
Of the 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 25 had declining rates, and three, no change in rates from November to December.
The City of Janesville lowered its unemployment rate by six-tenth of a percent, from 9.4 percent in November to 8.8 percent in December, and by two-tenths of a point from 9.6 percent a year ago. Madison pushed its rate down two-tenths last month to 4.2 percent. The city had a 4.4 percent unemployment rate in November 2011 and in December 2010.
Caledonia had the lowest rate, 3.0 percent, last month, while Racine, the highest rate, at 11.2 percent. Compared to a year ago, 30 cities had lower rates; Oshkosh had a slight increase.