DWD: June Unemployment Rates Announced

Contact:
Rose Lynch (608) 266-6753

Record number of people employed in June

Madison – Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced that Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was estimated to be 5.0 percent for June, down slightly from the May figure of 5.1 percent and substantially lower than the June 2003 figure of 5.6 percent. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was reported to be 5.6 percent.

“While the national employment numbers continue to be disappointing, Wisconsin is doing very well under Governor Doyle’s leadership,” Secretary Gassman said. “While we are pleased that Wisconsin’s unemployment rates fell this month, we still have a long way to go. Governor Doyle will continue to bring a strategic focus on job growth – the kind of focus that has been missing on the national level.”

The number of people who identified themselves as employed in Wisconsin was 3,013,400, which is an increase of 61,900 from May’s employment total of 2,951,500. It is also up 55,200 from the June 2003 figure. Unemployment also increased in the June figures, a natural occurrence for the month as new job seekers generally flood the job market in June. This includes recent high school graduates as well as college students looking for summer work. The 3,013,400 people employed for June is the highest figure ever for the state, surpassing the previous high of 2,954,186 reached in June of 2001.

The number of jobs in Wisconsin’s nonfarm wage and salary economy registered strong growth for June. Total jobs grew from 2,833,800 in May to 2,870,600 in June an increase of 36,800 jobs. That is a slightly larger increase than the seasonal norm. There was also a 46,800 jobs increase over last year’s June figure. The private sector added 52,800 jobs over last year’s figure. Manufacturing added 10,500 jobs over the month and 9,300 over the year. While Wisconsin has experienced some rebound in manufacturing jobs, we have still lost 84,100 manufacturing jobs since June 2000. The trade sector added 14,400 jobs over last year’s figure, with particularly impressive strength in wholesale trade. Professional and business services also added 16,900 jobs over the year. The government sector decreased by 5,800 jobs over the year, while other services and transportation, warehousing and utilities also decreased slightly.

June employment and unemployment figures for individual counties will be available July 21. This release also is available at www.dwd.state.wi.us/lmi.