CONTACT: Dick Jones, DWD Communications, 608-267-4780
Wisconsin’s unemployment rate holds steady; private sector adds 5,500 jobs
MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for October remained at 7.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, representing a 0.9 percent drop from October 2009. Without seasonal adjustment, the unemployment rate remained 7.0 percent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted rate is 1.8 percent lower than the national rate of 9.6 percent, which also was unchanged in October. Through September 2010, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate remains below that of other manufacturing-heavy Midwest states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Place of Work Data
With seasonal adjustment, private-sector jobs in Wisconsin increased by 5,500 to 2.31 million. Private services, health care and education, and leisure and hospitality were among the areas that experienced job growth.
“We saw positive signs for the economy in October as the private sector added 5,500 jobs,” Secretary Gassman said. “Since December 2009, the state’s private sector has added nearly 33,000 jobs. We are moving in the right direction but need to remain focused on job growth.”
A net increase in the government sector by 2,300 reflects continuing hires into the fall that accompany the new school year. The estimates reflect 1,500 fewer government jobs than in October 2009.
Figures for October are preliminary, with the final estimates announced next month.
