DWD: November unemployment rates announced

CONTACT: Chris Marschman, Communications Specialist, 608-261-6705

On the web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2009/unemployment/1109_state_lmi.pdf

Unadjusted Data

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for November was 7.8 percent, up 0.1 percentage points from October’s final rate of 7.7 percent.

The national rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.4 percent, after two months at 9.5 percent. The Wisconsin rate is 2.6 percentage points higher than one year ago, when it stood at 5.2 percent. The national rate is 2.9 percentage points higher than one year ago, when it stood at 6.5 percent.

“Wisconsin’s unemployment rate continues to hold steady and remains below the national rate,” Secretary Gassman said. “While this is encouraging news, we know many remain unemployed and we are doing all that we can to put them back to work and move the economy forward.”

From October to November, total Wisconsin non-farm jobs decreased by an estimated 9,800 to 2,751,200. Service Producers decreased by 3,700 jobs over the month, while Goods Producers lost 6,100 jobs. Among Service Producers, Trade increased by 6,100, while Leisure & Hospitality lost 11,900. Among Goods Producers, Manufacturing jobs and Construction jobs were each down 3,000.

Over the last 12 months, the data showed a decline of 126,700 Wisconsin non-farm jobs. Goods Producers were down 54,900, mostly in Manufacturing, which was down 46,000. Service sector jobs declined 71,800 over the year, led by Professional & Business Services, which lost 21,300 jobs.

The November survey of Wisconsin households showed 14,500 fewer employed than in October, and 125,300 fewer employed than one year ago. Wisconsin’s civilian labor force was down 9,300 to 3,036,100 in November and down 46,100 from November 2008.

Adjusted Data

The seasonally adjusted Wisconsin unemployment rate for November 2009 was 8.2 percent. This was down 0.2 percentage points from October. The November 2008 rate was 5.4 percent. The national seasonally adjusted November 2009 rate was 10.0 percent, compared to 10.2 percent in October. The U.S. November 2008 rate was 6.8 percent.

Total state employment was down 1,100 over the month and down 139,700 over the year.