Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation: Oshkosh area employment continues upward trend

CONTACT:
Jason E. White
Chief Executive Officer
2380 Hwy 44, Suite B, Oshkosh, WI 54904
(920) 230-3322
Jason.White@GreaterOshkosh.com

October 28th, 2015: The Oshkosh-Neenah Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) monthly unemployment rate decreased to 3.4 percent in September from 4.7 percent in September 2014, according to preliminary figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in September from a revised 4.7 percent in September 2014. The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in September. Total employment in the Oshkosh-Neenah MSA increased to 88,399 in September from 87,311 in September 2014 (a 1.3 percent increase).

“Following the familiar storyline, Oshkosh-Neenah MSA ties for the sharpest drop in unemployment among Wisconsin metropolitan areas over the past year”, said Jason White, CEO of Greater Oshkosh EDC. “Private sector employment is up by 2,000 jobs in the past year, fueled largely by growth in the ‘service providing’ and ‘education and health services’ industries.

“The return of faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the fall, in particular, means larger employment numbers for our region. Manufacturing employment has been fairly neutral in the past year, but anecdotally employers continue to express a huge need for both skilled and unskilled workers.”

Governor Scott Walker last week indicated at the Manufacturing First Conference in Green Bay that the State’s ‘Job Center of Wisconsin’ site lists over 100,000 open jobs around the state. Employers can list their jobs at https://jobcenterofwisconsin.com/.

The Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (GO-EDC) tracks economic indicators in the greater Oshkosh region and is assisted by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in analyzing the data.