MONROE - Unemployment rates for both Green and Lafayette counties dropped three-tenths of a percent in August, compared to July, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) preliminary jobs and unemployment data for metropolitan areas, cities and counties released Wednesday.
Lafayette County's rate dropped to 5.8 percent in August, down from 6.1 in July, while Green County dropped to 6.7 percent, down from 7 percent.
One year ago, Lafayette had a 6.5 percent unemployment rate, and Green had 7.5 percent.
The local numbers are not seasonally adjusted, which make the unemployment rates appear to be dropping compared to the commonly reported increased seasonally adjusted state-wide average rate.
The state adjusted rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in August, from 7.8 to 7.9 percent. However, unadjusted, the state rate fell four-tenths of a percent, to 7.3 percent from 7.7 percent in July.
Green and Lafayette are among the 68 counties that had lower rates in August. Lafayette held onto its place, sixth lowest on the list this month.
Green County rose one spot, up to the 22nd lowest unemployment rate in the state, sharing the place with Kewaunee and Portage counties, both of which had slightly higher unemployment rates than Green last month.
Florence and Trempealeau counties had no change from July to August, while Douglas and Menominee counties had increases. Menominee County had the highest rate at 21.9 percent, and Dane County, the lowest, at 5.1 percent.
All 12 of the reported metro areas experienced unemployment rate decreases from July to August: Madison had the lowest rate at 5.3 percent, Racine and Janesville shared the highest rate at 9.2 percent. Once again, Janesville had the largest one-year drop (-1.2 percentage point) from 10.4 percent in August 2010.
Of the 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 29 experienced declines in their unemployment rates.
Madison dropped to 5.3 from 5.5 percent a month ago, and 5.5 percent a year ago. Janesville dropped to 9.8 in August, down from 10.2 percent last month and 10.6 percent last year.
Beloit dropped half of a percentage point to an August rate of 12.8 percent, which is 2.8 percentage points down from 15.6 percent in August 2010.
Eau Claire, Green Bay and Milwaukee metro areas each gained 1,000 jobs or more from July to August. Janesville lost 400 jobs and Madison lost about 3,500 jobs.
"The latest monthly data, when included with data from prior months in 2011, show five metro areas have added jobs this year including 17,900 in the metro area that covers the Milwaukee region," said DWD Secretary Scott Baumbach.
Lafayette County's rate dropped to 5.8 percent in August, down from 6.1 in July, while Green County dropped to 6.7 percent, down from 7 percent.
One year ago, Lafayette had a 6.5 percent unemployment rate, and Green had 7.5 percent.
The local numbers are not seasonally adjusted, which make the unemployment rates appear to be dropping compared to the commonly reported increased seasonally adjusted state-wide average rate.
The state adjusted rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in August, from 7.8 to 7.9 percent. However, unadjusted, the state rate fell four-tenths of a percent, to 7.3 percent from 7.7 percent in July.
Green and Lafayette are among the 68 counties that had lower rates in August. Lafayette held onto its place, sixth lowest on the list this month.
Green County rose one spot, up to the 22nd lowest unemployment rate in the state, sharing the place with Kewaunee and Portage counties, both of which had slightly higher unemployment rates than Green last month.
Florence and Trempealeau counties had no change from July to August, while Douglas and Menominee counties had increases. Menominee County had the highest rate at 21.9 percent, and Dane County, the lowest, at 5.1 percent.
All 12 of the reported metro areas experienced unemployment rate decreases from July to August: Madison had the lowest rate at 5.3 percent, Racine and Janesville shared the highest rate at 9.2 percent. Once again, Janesville had the largest one-year drop (-1.2 percentage point) from 10.4 percent in August 2010.
Of the 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 29 experienced declines in their unemployment rates.
Madison dropped to 5.3 from 5.5 percent a month ago, and 5.5 percent a year ago. Janesville dropped to 9.8 in August, down from 10.2 percent last month and 10.6 percent last year.
Beloit dropped half of a percentage point to an August rate of 12.8 percent, which is 2.8 percentage points down from 15.6 percent in August 2010.
Eau Claire, Green Bay and Milwaukee metro areas each gained 1,000 jobs or more from July to August. Janesville lost 400 jobs and Madison lost about 3,500 jobs.
"The latest monthly data, when included with data from prior months in 2011, show five metro areas have added jobs this year including 17,900 in the metro area that covers the Milwaukee region," said DWD Secretary Scott Baumbach.