MADISON - The newest unemployment information, released April 24 by Department of Workforce Development, shows unemployment rates for Green and Lafayette counties in March were lower than a month earlier and lower than a year ago.
While the March figures are typically lower than January and February each year in the counties, the monthly rates in the first quarter of 2013 appear to be inching toward seasonal levels not seen since before 2009. (see chart on page A6)
Green County had 7.4 percent unemployment in March, down slightly from 7.7 percent in February and 7.8 percent in March 2012.
Green County unemployment was 5 percent in March 2008, before jumping to 10 percent in March 2009.
Lafayette County had 6.7 percent unemployment in March, compared to 7.3 percent in February and 6.7 percent in March 2012.
Lafayette County had 4.7 percent unemployment in March 2008 and 8.7 percent in March 2009.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary estimates for all Wisconsin counties show decreased unemployment rates between February and March in 70 counties. Iron and Rusk counties both experienced a 0.4 percent increase. Over the year, 36 counties had a rate decrease and seven had no change, while 29 had a rate increase.
March rates ranged from 5.1 percent in Dane to 14.6 percent in Menominee. Dane was down from 5.6 percent in February, but higher than 5 percent a year ago.
Iowa County was at 8.9 percent in March, down from 9.2 percent in February, but still higher than 8.2 a year ago.
Rock County was down to 9.1 percent, from 9.8 percent in February and 9.3 percent a year ago.
Among the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, preliminary unemployment March rates ranged from 5.4 percent in metro Madison to 9.8 percent in metro Racine. All 12 metro areas had decreased rates between February and March. Rates decreased or remained the same in nine metro areas year over year, increasing only in Eau Claire, Oshkosh-Neenah and Racine metro areas.
Madison MSA rate dropped from 9.8 percent in February and equals its March 2012 rate again of 5.4 percent. Janesville MSA dropped to 9.1 percent, from 9.8 percent in February and 9.3 a year ago.
Of the 32 Wisconsin municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, rates ranged from 3.9 percent in Caledonia to 13.3 percent in Racine.
All had a rate decrease between February and March, except Mount Pleasant, which had no change. Year over year, 17 had a rate decrease; four had no change, and 11 had an increase.
Janesville and Madison saw rate decreases compared to February and March last year. Madison, at 4.7 percent in March dropped from 5.3 percent a month earlier, and from 4.8 a year ago. Janesville, at 9.6 percent, was down from 10.1 percent in February and 9.9 percent a year ago.
Rates for counties, metro areas, and major cities are not seasonally adjusted.
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for the state were 7.6 percent in March, 8.2 percent in February and 7.7 percent a year ago. Nationally, the unadjusted rates were 7.6 percent in March, 8.1 percent in February and 8.4 percent a year ago.
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Wisconsin added 20,479 private sector jobs from September 2011 to September 2012. From December 2010 to December 2011, Wisconsin added 29,800 jobs, according to BLS.
The BLS preliminary unemployment estimates are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households, called the Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
The most accurate count of jobs data, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages is based on a census of approximately 95-96 percent of Wisconsin employers. QCEW data for all of 2012 will be available later this year.
Department of Revenue has reported state revenue collections through March are up by 4.0 percent (adjusted) in fiscal year 2013, according the DWD. Department of Financial Institutions reports new business formation up by 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. A decline during calendar year 2012 in initial and weekly DWD Unemployment Insurance claims, which are also running below pre-recession levels (YTD).
While the March figures are typically lower than January and February each year in the counties, the monthly rates in the first quarter of 2013 appear to be inching toward seasonal levels not seen since before 2009. (see chart on page A6)
Green County had 7.4 percent unemployment in March, down slightly from 7.7 percent in February and 7.8 percent in March 2012.
Green County unemployment was 5 percent in March 2008, before jumping to 10 percent in March 2009.
Lafayette County had 6.7 percent unemployment in March, compared to 7.3 percent in February and 6.7 percent in March 2012.
Lafayette County had 4.7 percent unemployment in March 2008 and 8.7 percent in March 2009.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary estimates for all Wisconsin counties show decreased unemployment rates between February and March in 70 counties. Iron and Rusk counties both experienced a 0.4 percent increase. Over the year, 36 counties had a rate decrease and seven had no change, while 29 had a rate increase.
March rates ranged from 5.1 percent in Dane to 14.6 percent in Menominee. Dane was down from 5.6 percent in February, but higher than 5 percent a year ago.
Iowa County was at 8.9 percent in March, down from 9.2 percent in February, but still higher than 8.2 a year ago.
Rock County was down to 9.1 percent, from 9.8 percent in February and 9.3 percent a year ago.
Among the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, preliminary unemployment March rates ranged from 5.4 percent in metro Madison to 9.8 percent in metro Racine. All 12 metro areas had decreased rates between February and March. Rates decreased or remained the same in nine metro areas year over year, increasing only in Eau Claire, Oshkosh-Neenah and Racine metro areas.
Madison MSA rate dropped from 9.8 percent in February and equals its March 2012 rate again of 5.4 percent. Janesville MSA dropped to 9.1 percent, from 9.8 percent in February and 9.3 a year ago.
Of the 32 Wisconsin municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, rates ranged from 3.9 percent in Caledonia to 13.3 percent in Racine.
All had a rate decrease between February and March, except Mount Pleasant, which had no change. Year over year, 17 had a rate decrease; four had no change, and 11 had an increase.
Janesville and Madison saw rate decreases compared to February and March last year. Madison, at 4.7 percent in March dropped from 5.3 percent a month earlier, and from 4.8 a year ago. Janesville, at 9.6 percent, was down from 10.1 percent in February and 9.9 percent a year ago.
Rates for counties, metro areas, and major cities are not seasonally adjusted.
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for the state were 7.6 percent in March, 8.2 percent in February and 7.7 percent a year ago. Nationally, the unadjusted rates were 7.6 percent in March, 8.1 percent in February and 8.4 percent a year ago.
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing Wisconsin added 20,479 private sector jobs from September 2011 to September 2012. From December 2010 to December 2011, Wisconsin added 29,800 jobs, according to BLS.
The BLS preliminary unemployment estimates are based on Unemployment Insurance claims and a monthly survey of 1,450 Wisconsin households, called the Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
The most accurate count of jobs data, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages is based on a census of approximately 95-96 percent of Wisconsin employers. QCEW data for all of 2012 will be available later this year.
Department of Revenue has reported state revenue collections through March are up by 4.0 percent (adjusted) in fiscal year 2013, according the DWD. Department of Financial Institutions reports new business formation up by 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. A decline during calendar year 2012 in initial and weekly DWD Unemployment Insurance claims, which are also running below pre-recession levels (YTD).