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Wisconsin News Release: State jobless rate down for third month, to 3.2%

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Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Governor
Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
Linda Stewart

News Media Contact
DWD News Office
608/267-4400
e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us
fax: 608/266-1784

For more information contact:
August Cibarich, 608/266-0522

State jobless rate down for third month, to 3.2%

Madison, Wis. -- Wisconsin’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate declined from 3.4 per cent in mid-February to 3.2 per cent in mid-March, a state agency reported today. The number of payroll jobs increased by more than 12,000, its largest monthly increase since last June.

"These changes, and others, indicate continued growth in Wisconsin’s strong labor market," said Orlando Canto, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Canto said March recorded the third straight monthly decline in the jobless rate since December’s 3.6 per cent level. It also was tied (with March 1998) for the lowest March rate in 29 years, since a rate of 3.1 per cent was recorded for the month in 1970. (The lowest state March rate since record keeping began in 1960 was 3.0 per cent, in 1966. The lowest rate for any month ever was 2.9 per cent, recorded both in April 1998 and October 1966.)

The latest unemployment rate for the state also:

matched that for March a year ago.

was the first time in six months that the monthly rate did not exceed its year ago level.

remained below the comparable U.S. rate for the 139^th consecutive month. (The comparable U.S. rate, March, was, 4.2%).

The number of jobless persons declined over the month by 9,300 to 113,800 (before seasonal adjustment). That was a larger than normal decline for the time of year, while still 2,000 more than a year ago.

The number of private and public sector payroll jobs rose by 12,100 over the month, and by 39,300 over the year, to 2,691,000. Both were seasonally-strong improvements. The monthly gain was the largest since June 1998 recorded an increase of 36,600 jobs, from May.

Manufacturing was little changed over the month in March at 608,500, while down 3,500 jobs over the year. Manufacturing jobs usually increase slightly in March.

Construction was up 1,100 jobs over the month to 101,200 and up over the year by 7,000. Both were seasonally strong changes.

Services showed the most growth over the month and year, up 4,900 and 17,800 to 705,500 in March. Both measurements were better than normal for the time of year.

Trade reported a normal growth of 3,000 jobs over the month, to 595,600. Its growth of 3,500 over the year was weaker than usual.

The Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector grew by 400 jobs over the month, and by 4,600 jobs over the year, to 145,800, also improvements when seasonally adjusted.

Transportation and Public Utilities’ growth of 1,000 jobs over the month, and 4,300 over the year, to 127,900, was seasonally strong.

The number of persons who were employed last month rose by 7,000 from February to 2,831,300, somewhat less than normal for the time of year. It thus represented a small loss when seasonally-adjusted. The total still is up almost 42,000 from a year earlier.

Seasonally-adjusted jobless rates were unchanged or down in 10 of Wisconsin’s largest urban areas over the month, and ranged from 1.4 per cent in Madison to 4.2 per cent in Racine. Wausau recorded the only increase, up from 3.1 in mid-February to 3.3 per cent in mid-March. Rates in Milwaukee-Waukesha (3.4 per cent) and Sheboygan (2.1 per cent) were unchanged over the month.

The seasonally-adjusted rates were down over the year in seven of the areas and up in four. Rates in these same urban areas a year ago ranged from 1.5 to 3.8 per cent.

The rate for a 12^th area, Duluth-Superior, declined over the month from 4.4 to 4.1 per cent and also was down from the year-ago March rate of 5.0 per cent. Only unadjusted data is available for that area from the Minnesota Department of Economic Security and is not comparable to seasonally-adjusted rates in Wisconsin.

The complete text of the Department’s announcement and supporting data, as well as other labor market information, is available to the public on the agency’s Web site at <http://www.dwd.state.wi.us>. Select "news releases." Historical and other related labor market data is available by selecting "labor market information."

(end)

Employment and Labor Force
Household Survey

Unadjusted estimates	March 1999	Prior month	Year ago
Total labor force	2,945,100	2,947,400	2,901,200
Employed	2,831,300	2,824,300	2,789,400
Unemployed	113,800	123,100	111,800
Wis. Unemployment Rate	3.9%	4.2%	3.9%
U.S. Unemployment Rate	4.4%	4.7%	5.0%

Seasonally adjusted	March 1999	Prior month	Year ago
Total labor force	2,976,000	2,985,200	2,930,700
Employed	2,880,200	2,884,800	2,837,100
Unemployed	95,800	100,400	93,600
Wis. Unemployment	3.2%	3.4%	3.2%
U.S. Unemployment	4.2%	4.4%	4.7%

February U.S. rank*	Unemployment % seasonally adjusted	March 1999	Prior month	Year ago
14^th (March)	Wisconsin	3.2%	3.4%	3.2%
84^th	Appleton-Oshkosh	2.5	2.6	2.7
177^th	Eau Claire	2.6	2.7	2.7
74^th	Green Bay	2.4	2.6	2.7
176^th	Janesville-Beloit	3.1	3.1	2.9
130^th	Kenosha	3.4	3.6	3.0
129^th	La Crosse	2.5	2.9	2.6
4^th	Madison	1.4	1.5	1.5
119^th	Milwaukee-Waukesha	3.4	3.4	3.0
236^th	Racine	4.2	4.5	3.8
30^th	Sheboygan	2.1	2.1	2.4
192^nd	Wausau	3.3	3.1	3.5
* This is the latest available data for the U.S.’s 328 largest metro areas. Urban rankings are NOT seasonally adjusted. Lower is better. Ties are shown only if existing with other Wisconsin urban areas; ties with urban areas in other states are not shown, but are available upon request. Rankings are by the U.S. Labor Department and are based on unadjusted data for the previous month, while the rates shown above for Wisconsin cities are seasonally-adjusted.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Non-Farm Wage & Salary
Employer Survey
In Thousands

	March 1999	February 1999	Year Ago	+/- month	+/– year
NONFARM WAGE & SALARY	2691.0	2678.9	2651.7	12.1	39.3

MANUFACTURING	608.5	608.2	612.0	0.3	-3.5
DURABLE GOODS .	373.8	373.5	376.9	0.3	-3.1
Lumber and Wood Products	31.1	30.9	29.8	0.2	1.3
Furniture and Fixtures	17.4	17.3	17.6	0.1	-0.2
Stone, Clay & Glass Products	10.1	9.9	10.0	0.2	0.1
Primary Metal Industries	25.3	25.3	25.8	0.0	-0.5
Fabricated Metal Products	68.3	68.4	68.0	-0.1	0.3
Nonelectrical Machinery	114.3	114.2	116.4	0.1	-2.1
Electrical Machinery	44.7	44.8	47.2	-0.1	-2.5
Transportation Equipment .	33.7	33.7	33.1	0.0	0.6
Prof., Scient. & Control Instr	18.1	18.2	17.9	-0.1	0.2
Miscellaneous Manufacturing	10.8	10.7	11.2	0.1	-0.4

NONDURABLE GOODS	234.7	234.7	235.0	0.0	-0.3
Food and Kindred Products	62.0	62.0	62.4	0.0	-0.4
Textile Mill Products	2.7	2.7	2.9	0.0	-0.2
Apparel & Other Finished Products	6.3	6.3	6.0	0.0	0.3
Paper and Allied Products.	52.1	52.3	52.6	-0.2	-0.5
Printing, Publishing & Allied	55.3	55.4	54.6	-0.1	0.7
Chemicals and Allied Products	14.9	14.8	14.3	0.1	0.6
Rubber & Misc. Plastic Products	37.1	36.9	37.2	0.2	-0.1
Leather & Leather Products	4.0	4.1	4.7	-0.1	-0.7
All Other Nondurable Goods	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.0

MINING	2.1	2.0	2.2	0.1	-0.1
CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION	101.2	100.1	94.2	1.1	7.0
TRANS, COMM, ELEC, GAS	127.9	126.9	123.6	1.0	4.3
TRADE	595.6	592.6	592.1	3.0	3.5
WHOLESALE TRADE	136.4	135.7	133.9	0.7	2.5
RETAIL TRADE	459.2	456.8	458.2	2.4	1.0
FINANCE, INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE	145.8	145.4	141.2	0.4	4.6
SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS	705.5	700.6	687.7	4.9	17.8

GOVERNMENT	404.3	403.1	398.6	1.2	5.7
FEDERAL	29.7	29.7	29.1	0.0	0.6
STATE	101.9	100.5	99.7	1.4	2.2
LOCAL	272.7	273.0	269.7	-0.3	3.0

PERSONS INVOLVED IN L-M DISPUTES	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Maps of March 1999 Unemployment Rates by County

Unemployment by County
March 1999
Not seasonally adjusted

RANK	COUNTY	RATE	LAST RATE	LAST RANK	YR AGO RATE	RANK	COUNTY	RATE	LAST RATE	LAST RANK	YR AGO RATE

31	ADAMS	5.5%	5.8%	34	5.7%	49	MARATHON	4.2%	4.5%	50	4.6%
1	ASHLAND	10.2%	10.6%	2	8.7%	22	MARINETTE	6.4%	6.9%	23	7.1%
26	BARRON	6.0%	6.5%	27	5.9%	9	MARQUETTE	7.9%	8.9%	8	8.2%
6	BAYFIELD	8.7%	9.7%	6	8.2%	10	MENOMINEE	7.9%	8.2%	12	9.9%
67	BROWN	2.8%	3.1%	66	3.1%	50	MILWAUKEE	4.1%	4.2%	55	3.5%
52	BUFFALO	4.0%	4.4%	52	4.5%	38	MONROE	5.0%	6.0%	31	4.9%

11	BURNETT	7.9%	8.1%	13	5.6%	21	OCONTO	6.5%	7.1%	21	6.8%
66	CALUMET	2.8%	3.2%	65	3.2%	19	ONEIDA	6.7%	6.8%	25	6.7%
33	CHIPPEWA	5.3%	5.9%	33	5.5%	60	OUTAGAMIE	3.3%	3.6%	62	3.5%
15	CLARK	7.7%	8.3%	11	8.7%	71	OZAUKEE	2.2%	2.3%	71	2.0%
32	COLUMBIA	5.4%	6.0%	32	6.1%	24	PEPIN	6.2%	7.1%	20	7.0%
37	CRAWFORD	5.1%	5.6%	36	4.6%	59	PIERCE	3.4%	3.6%	63	3.5%

72	DANE	1.7%	1.9%	72	1.8%	34	POLK	5.3%	5.7%	35	5.6%
58	DODGE	3.4%	3.8%	58	3.4%	46	PORTAGE	4.6%	5.0%	47	4.9%
14	DOOR	7.7%	8.5%	9	8.0%	2	PRICE	9.7%	10.9%	1	8.0%
29	DOUGLAS	5.8%	6.2%	30	6.0%	42	RACINE	4.7%	5.2%	42	4.2%
44	DUNN	4.6%	5.1%	44	4.8%	35	RICHLAND	5.3%	5.5%	37	5.9%
64	EAU CLAIRE	3.1%	3.4%	64	3.5%	53	ROCK	3.9%	4.4%	51	3.6%

5	FLORENCE	9.0%	10.2%	3	8.1%	16	RUSK	7.2%	7.8%	15	9.9%
55	FOND DU LAC	3.8%	4.2%	54	3.6%	47	SAUK	4.3%	5.0%	46	5.0%
12	FOREST	7.9%	8.0%	14	11.1%	8	SAWYER	8.5%	9.2%	7	9.0%
43	GRANT	4.6%	5.3%	38	5.1%	41	SHAWANO	4.7%	5.3%	39	5.4%
48	GREEN	4.3%	4.6%	48	3.8%	70	SHEBOYGAN	2.3%	2.5%	70	2.6%
25	GREEN LAKE	6.1%	6.8%	24	6.1%	56	ST. CROIX	3.7%	3.7%	59	3.6%

39	IOWA	4.8%	5.3%	40	5.2%	18	TAYLOR	6.8%	7.7%	17	8.4%
7	IRON	8.6%	8.5%	10	10.9%	27	TREMPEALEAU	6.0%	6.5%	28	6.4%
28	JACKSON	5.9%	6.6%	26	6.0%	30	VERNON	5.7%	6.2%	29	5.5%
61	JEFFERSON	3.2%	3.6%	61	3.2%	13	VILAS	7.8%	7.8%	16	8.3%
3	JUNEAU	9.4%	10.2%	4	8.6%	63	WALWORTH	3.1%	3.6%	60	3.0%
57	KENOSHA	3.6%	3.9%	56	3.1%	4	WASHBURN	9.4%	9.8%	5	7.9%

54	KEWAUNEE	3.9%	4.3%	53	4.1%	65	WASHINGTON	3.1%	3.1%	67	3.2%
62	LA CROSSE	3.1%	3.8%	57	3.3%	69	WAUKESHA	2.5%	2.6%	69	2.5%
40	LAFAYETTE	4.8%	5.2%	43	4.6%	51	WAUPACA	4.0%	4.5%	49	3.9%
17	LANGLADE	7.2%	7.6%	18	7.2%	23	WAUSHARA	6.3%	6.9%	22	6.2%
20	LINCOLN	6.6%	7.2%	19	7.0%	68	WINNEBAGO	2.7%	2.9%	68	2.9%
45	MANITOWOC	4.6%	5.1%	45	3.9%	36	WOOD	5.3%	5.3%	41	6.1%

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development