WISCONSIN FEBRUARY 2007 UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ANNOUNCED

Madison – Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced Wisconsin’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in February, which was an increase of four-tenths of a percentage point since January.  The state’s current rate is two-tenths of a percentage point higher compared to February 2006.  The national unadjusted rate was 4.9 percent in February, down one-tenth a percentage point monthly and it is two-tenths of a percentage point lower, annually.


“As it did in January, the Wisconsin labor market followed normal seasonal patterns in February,” Secretary Gassman said. “Wisconsin’s economy continues to grow, as evidenced by the addition of jobs over-the-month and over-the-year, however, some industries, such as manufacturing, still present challenges, which we continue to address.”


Preliminary total nonfarm employment in Wisconsin in February was estimated to be 2,807,400 jobs representing a monthly net gain of 4,500 jobs statewide.  The largest monthly job gains were evident in public and private educational institutions; professional and business services; and financial activities. The manufacturing and construction sectors each posted fewer jobs, monthly.


Wisconsin gained 13,500 jobs compared to February 2006.  The overall increase was centered in the state’s services-providing sectors particularly in local government; educational and health services; financial activities; and wholesale trade employment.  Wisconsin’s two major goods-producing sectors, construction (-500 jobs) and manufacturing (-8,600 jobs), measured fewer jobs than in February 2006.  The rise in services-providing jobs offset these losses in the goods-producing sectors.


Adjusted Data


The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in February, up one-tenth over the month and was two-tenths higher, annually.  The national seasonally adjusted rate was 4.5 percent in February; a decrease of one-tenth of a point monthly and it is three-tenths lower, annually. 


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WISCONSIN LABOR FORCE SUMMARY
In Thousands   
                                        NET CHANGE FROM
                PRELIM.


FEB 07           FINAL  


JAN 07  YEAR AGO 


FEB 06  MONTH


   AGO  YEAR


AGO    
                ITEM   
                       
                       
PLACE OF RESIDENCE DATA
       
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES  
  CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE         
3070.7  3060.4  3031.9  10.3    38.8   
  UNEMPLOYMENT         
180.5   168.5   172.4   12.0    8.1    
  UNEMPLOYMENT RATE            
5.9     5.5     5.7     0.4     0.2    
  EMPLOYMENT (1)               
2890.2  2891.9  2859.5  -1.7    30.7   
                                                       
PLACE OF WORK DATA                                                     
NONFARM WAGE & SALARY          
2807.4  2802.9  2793.9  4.5     13.5   
 TOTAL PRIVATE         
2384.5  2389.8  2374.2  -5.3    10.3   
  GOODS PRODUCING              
604.9   610.2   613.9   -5.3    -9.0   
    NATURAL RESOURCES & MINING         
3.5     3.5     3.4     0.0     0.1    
    CONSTRUCTION               
111.4   114.6   111.9   -3.2    -0.5   
    MANUFACTURING              
490     492.1   498.6   -2.1    -8.6   
      Durable Goods            
313.9   315.1   315.3   -1.2    -1.4   
      Nondurable Goods         
176.1   177     183.3   -0.9    -7.2   
  SERVICE PRODUCING            
2202.5  2192.7  2180    9.8     22.5   
    TRADE              
424.6   433.0   422.0   -8.4    2.6    
      Wholesale Trade          
119.8   120.7   118.1   -0.9    1.7    
      Retail Trade             
304.8   312.3   303.9   -7.5    0.9    
    TRANS., WAREHOUSE, & UTILITIES             
107.6   107.5   107.6   0.1     0.0    
      Utilities        
10.7    10.7    11.1    0.0     -0.4   
     INFORMATION               
50.1    50.1    49.3    0.0     0.8    
     FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES              
162.7   160.7   159.2   2.0     3.5    
      Finance and Insurance            
135.6   133.2   132.1   2.4     3.5    
      Real Estate, Rental, & Lease             
27.1    27.5    27.1    -0.4    0.0    
    PROFESSIONAL & BUSINESS SERVICES           
261.5   258.7   260.2   2.8     1.3    
      Prof., Scien., & Tech. Services          
98.5    97.3    95.9    1.2     2.6    
      Mgmt. Of Companies and Enterprises               
43.7    44      40.6    -0.3    3.1    
      Admin. Support & Waste Mgmt. Services            
119.3   117.4   123.7   1.9     -4.4   
    EDUCATIONAL & HEALTH SERVICES              
394.7   391.8   388.4   2.9     6.3    
      Educational Services             
48.3    45.8    49.3    2.5     -1.0   
      Health Care & Social Assistance          
346.4   346     339.1   0.4     7.3    
    LEISURE & HOSPITALITY              
242.4   242     239.6   0.4     2.8    
      Arts, Entertain., & Recreation           
28.3    27.7    28.6    0.6     -0.3   
      Accommodation & Food Services            
214.1   214.3   211     -0.2    3.1    
    OTHER SERVICES, except Public Admin        
136     135.8   134     0.2     2.0    
    GOVERNMENT         
422.9   413.1   419.7   9.8     3.2    
      Federal Government               
28.6    28.6    28.8    0.0     -0.2   
      State Government         
102.7   99.2    104.7   3.5     -2.0   
      Local Government         
291.6   285.3   286.2   6.3     5.4    
                                                       
  PERSONS INVOLVED IN L-M DISPUTES             
0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0    
  (1) Includes L-M Disputes                                                    
                SEASONALLY ADJUSTED LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES      
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE           
3094.6  3086.9  3054.7  7.7     39.9   
  UNEMPLOYMENT                 
154.3   151.8   146.3   2.5     8.0    
      UNEMPLOYMENT RATE                
5.0     4.9     4.8     0.1     0.2    
  EMPLOYMENT           
2940.3  2935.1  2908.4  5.2     31.9   
*Differences in totals may occur as a result of rounding.


Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Current Employment Statistics programs, Labor Market
             Information Section, Bureau of Workforce Information