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Wisconsin’s unemployment rate of 7.8 percent reflects slight drop from August
MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for September was 7.8 percent seasonally adjusted, down 0.1 percentage point from August and a full percentage point lower than the rate in September 2009. Without seasonal adjustment, the unemployment dropped to 7.0 percent from 7.7 percent.
“Wisconsin’s unemployment rate ticked downward in September, which is typically a seasonal month of change for our state,” Secretary Gassman said. “Even with the decrease in unemployment, along with improvement in some areas of our economy, there are still too many Wisconsinites out of work. We must remain focused on job growth.”
The state’s seasonally adjusted rate is at its lowest point since February 2009, when the rate was 7.7 percent. Additionally, the rate is 1.8 percent lower than the national rate of 9.6 percent. Through August 2010, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate remains below that of other manufacturing-heavy Midwest states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Place of Work Data
With seasonal adjustment, the number of Wisconsin private-sector jobs was 2.3 million, reflecting a decrease of 9,900. Some areas still experienced growth including health care and social assistance (2,600); other services (2,400) such as personal services; and financial activities (600).
A net increase in the government sector by 400 reflects returns to school, particularly in higher education with work-study, student employment and other hires during the month. Increases at the state and local government levels are almost entirely education-related as students head back to school.
The September numbers are preliminary and subject to revision within the next several weeks.
