April 2007 Local Unemployment Rates Announced

MADISON – Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced April 2007 unemployment rates for the state’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSA). 


 


Nonfarm wage and salary job estimates rose across the board throughout the state in April.  Most of the state’s metro areas posted net job growth from 1 percent to about 1.5 percent over the month.  The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA led the way with 7,600 more jobs followed by the Madison MSA with 3,700 more. 


 


“Jobs continued to increase across the state last month, providing more encouraging news about Wisconsin’s economy,” Secretary Gassman said.


 


The La Crosse and Appleton MSAs posted the largest growth proportionately with each measuring 1.4 percent net job growth between March and April.  Eight of the 12 MSA job bases increased on an annual basis.  The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA and the Appleton MSA posted the largest net job growth with 6,400 and 3,300 more jobs, respectively.  The Janesville MSA, with 1,500 fewer jobs compared to last April, represented the MSA with the largest decrease in total nonfarm jobs.


 


Ten of Wisconsin’s 12 metropolitan statistical areas posted lower unemployment rates in April on a monthly basis.  The Janesville MSA unemployment rate was the most improved, dropping one percent point to 5.5 percent.  The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA and the Racine MSA were the two exceptions, with their April unemployment rates increasing just slightly by one-tenth and two-tenths of a percentage point, respectively.  The statewide unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in April.


 


COUNTIES


 


In April, 63 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties measured lower unemployment rates compared to March.  The unemployment rate remained the same in two counties and increased in seven.  Dane County and Ozaukee County each had rates under the 4 percent mark, the lowest rates measured in the state. 


 


Fifty-eight counties had higher unemployment rates compared to April 2006; seven were unchanged, and seven were lower.  Richland County’s rate was 1.4 percent points higher, the largest annual rise at the county level.  Menominee County’s rate decreased 2.2 percent points for the largest unemployment rate decrease.  Price County’s rate was also significantly lower, down 1.9 percent points.