Dept. of Workforce Development: November 2007 local unemployment rates announced

CONTACT: Jessica Erickson, Communications Director, 608-266-6753

County Maps http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/unemployment/maps/2007/0710.htm I Labor Force Summary by MSA http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/oea/xls/wi_msa_quick_table.xls I Labor Force Summary by County http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/oea/xls/county_quick_table.xls


METRO AREAS

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

“The state’s labor market condition for county and metro areas largely reflects the statewide data released last week, which showed moderate improvement in November,” Secretary Gassman said. “Job counts were mostly higher in metropolitan areas, compared to one-year-ago. However, unemployment rates also rose in many metro areas and counties.”

Unemployment rates increased in 11 of the state’s 12 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) on a monthly basis in November. The Madison MSA had the lowest rate in October at 3.6 percent, followed by La Crosse at 3.9 percent. The Racine MSA recorded the highest rate at 5.9 percent.

Preliminary nonfarm wage and salary jobs increased over-the-month in five metro areas, and decreased in seven areas. The Madison MSA added 1,700 jobs for the greatest increase, followed by the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA, which added 1,000 jobs in November. The Green Bay MSA saw the greatest loss, decreasing 600 jobs.

The over-the-year comparison of job estimates shows an increase in 11 of Wisconsin’s 12 MSAs. The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA led the growth, gaining 10,500 jobs, and the Madison MSA gained the second most with 4,200 more jobs compared to one year ago. The Janesville MSA showed no change, and no MSA showed an annual decline.

COUNTIES

Unemployment rates decreased in four of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in November, while 67 saw increases, and one was unchanged. The largest decrease was in Ashland County, which dropped eight-tenths of a percentage point to 4.9 percent. Bayfield County, rising 2.1 percentage points to 6.3 percent, had the largest increase in unemployment rate. Dane County had the state’s lowest rate in November at 3.4 percent, with Lafayette County coming in second at 3.5 percent. Menominee County recorded the highest rate with 10.6 percent, followed by Iron County at 8.0 percent. In all, there were 30 counties with rates of over 5.0 percent and 42 counties with rates of 5.0 percent or less.

Annually, seven counties had lower rates compared to November 2006, three were unchanged, and 62 had higher rates. The greatest increase, 2.9 percentage points, occurred in Burnett County, while St. Croix County decreased one percentage point.