CONTACT: Chris Marschman, Communications Specialist, 608-261-6705
On the web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2009/unemployment/0709_state_lmi.pdf
Unadjusted Data
MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for July was 8.7 percent, down 0.5 percentage points from June’s 9.2 percent and equal to May’s 8.7 percent. The July rate was 4.1 percentage points higher than the rate of 4.6 percent for Wisconsin in July of 2008. The national rate for July was unchanged from June’s 9.7 percent, compared to 9.1 percent in May. The national rate for July is 3.7 percentage points higher than the 6.0 percent recorded in July 2008.
“While welcome, the rate decrease represents seasonal fluctuations,” Secretary Gassman said. “More economists believe the recession has run its course, but caution that employment numbers will lag behind the recovery. Our mission remains the same: DWD and its partners will continue to do all that we can to meet the needs of job seekers and employers during these challenging economic times.”
From June to July, total Wisconsin non-farm jobs decreased by an estimated 30,000 to 2,772,700. Goods Producers lost 800 jobs, while Service Producers lost 29,200 jobs over the month. The decline in Service Producers was driven by local government, which lost 31,400 jobs. This is a seasonal occurrence that happens during this time of year as schools, a function of local government, recess for the summer. Among Goods Producers, Construction jobs increased 1,500 over the month, while Manufacturing jobs decreased 2,300.
Over the year, July 2009 showed a decline of 114,000 Wisconsin non-farm jobs. Goods Producers were down 71,500, mostly in Manufacturing, which was down 57,800. Service sector jobs declined 42,500 over the year, led by Professional & Business Services, which lost 20,100 jobs.
The July survey of Wisconsin households showed 3,500 fewer employed than in June, and 130,700 fewer employed than one year ago. Wisconsin’s civilian labor force was down 19,300 to 3,126,400 in July, an increase of 200 over July 2008.
Adjusted Data
The seasonally adjusted Wisconsin unemployment rate for July 2009 was 9.0 percent, unchanged from June and up 0.1 percentage points from May 2009. The national seasonally adjusted July 2009 rate was 9.4 percent. This compares to 9.5 percent in June 2009, and 9.4 percent in May 2009.
Total state employment was down 11,000 over the month and down 134,000 over the year.
