Contact: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
BLS Data: Wisconsin 6th in the Nation for Average Weekly Wage Private-Sector Wage Growth
MADISON – Wisconsin has the nation’s sixth-highest growth in average weekly private-sector wages from December 2014 to December 2015, according to today’s release of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) state-by-state Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW) data covering the fourth quarter of 2015.
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen issued the following statement in response to the new data:
“As Wisconsin was one of only 10 states with an annual average unemployment rate in 2015 lower than 2007, today’s data also shows we had the sixth-highest rate of growth in average weekly private sector wages year-over-year,” Secretary Allen said. “Wisconsin consistently has a lower unemployment rate and higher labor force participation rate than the nation.
These factors, coupled with strong wage growth in 2015, suggest that Wisconsin employers are facing labor supply constraints and stepping up efforts to attract and retain workers. This means that as our rate of wage growth outpaces our rate of private-sector job growth, workers overall are faring well.”
“These labor market indicators also support why employers continue to tell us they need more workers and skilled talent to grow, increase output and add even more jobs, and why we must remain focused on developing Wisconsin’s workforce for jobs employers have available today.”
The BLS’ full QCEW report is available online.
