10/21/2009

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today released September 2009 local unemployment rate estimates for Wisconsin cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.

"The September local rates show further improvement, but challenges remain,” Secretary Gassman said. “The rates for all metro areas and all but one county continue to decline with each month. Yet compared to a year ago, we have much more to do to help the unemployed and all job seekers, connect them with employers and move the economy forward.”

METRO AREAS

Unemployment rates decreased in all of the state’s 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in September compared to August. When compared to rates of September 2008, all 12 MSAs had higher unemployment rates last month. The Madison MSA had the lowest rate in September at 5.6 percent. The Janesville MSA recorded the highest rate at 11.1 percent.

Preliminary figures for nonfarm wage and salary jobs showed a decrease in 9 of the 11 reporting areas, while two recorded increases in jobs over the month. Compared to last year, all 11 areas recorded job losses in September.

COUNTIES

Unemployment rates decreased in 71 of 72 Wisconsin counties in September. Taylor County, with a rate of 9.6 percent, was unchanged from August to September. Dane County and Pepin County both recorded rates of 5.4 percent for September, the lowest rate among the counties for the month. The highest rates were recorded in Menominee County at 12.7 percent and Rock County at 11.1 percent.

On an annual basis, unemployment rates increased in all 72 counties. The smallest increase occurred in Pepin County, which recorded a 1.9 percentage point increase. The biggest increase occurred in Taylor County, where the unemployment rate increased 5.4 percentage points over September 2008.

Unemployment rates are as follows:

Current/Month ago/Year ago

WI 7.7% 8.4% 4.2%

U.S. 9.5% 9.6% 6.0%

Northwest Wisconsin

Ashland 8.3% 9.6% 4.6%

Barron 7.1% 7.6% 4.3%

Bayfield 6.2% 6.8% 4.0%

Burnett 9.1% 9.5% 5.3%

Douglas 6.5% 7.5% 4.4%

Iron 9.4% 10.4% 6.0%

Price 9.4% 10.3% 4.0%

Rusk 10.1% 11.1% 4.8%

Sawyer 7.1% 7.7% 4.6%

Washburn 7.8% 8.3% 5.2%

Superior 6.4% 7.7% 4.3%

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