With all the recent bad news about the nation's economy, numbers released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development are good news for Lafayette and Green counties.
Amid record-high gas prices, skyrocketing food costs and a credit card crisis, unemployment rates in Lafayette and Green counties have decreased.
"In May, Wisconsin's labor market continued to see the steady overall month-to-month improvement it has experienced the past several months," DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said. "Wisconsin's economy overall is holding up better than many parts of the nation."
Of the state's 72 counties, Lafayette County has the third-lowest unemployment rate, at 3.1 percent. That's down from 3.6 percent a month ago and 3.7 percent a year ago.
Only Buffalo and Dane counties have a lower unemployment rate.
Green County's rank remained at 57th, but its rate steadily improved. In May, the county's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. That's down from 4 percent a month ago and 5 percent a year ago.
Credit should be given to a number of industries and businesses for continuing to employ Green and Lafayette counties' workforce. Some, like Chromalox in Albany, are closing by the end of the year. Others, like Woodbridge Corporation in Brodhead, will have mass layoffs due to the uncontrollable circumstance of providing materials to a larger employer which is winding down production.
But for the most part, businesses in Green and Lafayette counties continue to provide quality employment for residents.
Green County is fortunate that its largest employer is Monroe Clinic, a strong and stable institution in a thriving industry. Swiss Colony, the second largest county employer, has its roots here. Both counties rely heavily on smaller companies and are less susceptible to the large-scale manufacturing job cuts that some other parts of the state and country are.
Credit also should be given to Green County Development Corp. and Lafayette Development Corp. These economic development organizations continue to seek out business interests and facilitate business expansions for their counties in a time when these are getting harder to find.
Keep up the good work everyone. Green and Lafayette counties are better for your efforts.
Amid record-high gas prices, skyrocketing food costs and a credit card crisis, unemployment rates in Lafayette and Green counties have decreased.
"In May, Wisconsin's labor market continued to see the steady overall month-to-month improvement it has experienced the past several months," DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said. "Wisconsin's economy overall is holding up better than many parts of the nation."
Of the state's 72 counties, Lafayette County has the third-lowest unemployment rate, at 3.1 percent. That's down from 3.6 percent a month ago and 3.7 percent a year ago.
Only Buffalo and Dane counties have a lower unemployment rate.
Green County's rank remained at 57th, but its rate steadily improved. In May, the county's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent. That's down from 4 percent a month ago and 5 percent a year ago.
Credit should be given to a number of industries and businesses for continuing to employ Green and Lafayette counties' workforce. Some, like Chromalox in Albany, are closing by the end of the year. Others, like Woodbridge Corporation in Brodhead, will have mass layoffs due to the uncontrollable circumstance of providing materials to a larger employer which is winding down production.
But for the most part, businesses in Green and Lafayette counties continue to provide quality employment for residents.
Green County is fortunate that its largest employer is Monroe Clinic, a strong and stable institution in a thriving industry. Swiss Colony, the second largest county employer, has its roots here. Both counties rely heavily on smaller companies and are less susceptible to the large-scale manufacturing job cuts that some other parts of the state and country are.
Credit also should be given to Green County Development Corp. and Lafayette Development Corp. These economic development organizations continue to seek out business interests and facilitate business expansions for their counties in a time when these are getting harder to find.
Keep up the good work everyone. Green and Lafayette counties are better for your efforts.
