Department of Workforce Development

Madison, Wis. -- Wisconsin’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in mid-April, the Department of Workforce Development reported today.

Seasonal improvements in the Wisconsin labor force continued in April with a decline in unemployment and an increase in total employment.  The decline in unemployment was greater than normal for the month while the total employment gain was below normal.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined from 3.2 per cent in mid-March to 3.1 percent in mid-April. The number of jobless persons declined by 17,300 to 96,700 (before seasonal adjustment).  This decline was 4,000 more than the normal change for this time of year.

"Wisconsin’s labor market continues to grow because of the continued job gains in the trade, construction, service and transportation industries," said Orlando Canto, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

The total number of people employed in the state increased by 18,600 over the month.   However, the employment gain was approximately 4,000 less than a normal March to April change.

The number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs, or payroll jobs, increased by 32,100 over the month to 2,722,900.  The April monthly change was 4,300 above the normal March to April seasonal gain.  The difference between the job gain and the smaller than normal monthly total employment gain may be the result of an increase in the number of dual job holders.

Canto said April recorded the fourth straight monthly decline in the jobless rate since December’s 3.6 per cent level.

The latest unemployment rate for the state also remained below the comparable U.S. rate for April, which was 4.3%.  The state’s unemployment rate has been below the national average for every month after January 1988.

The lowest April rate was recorded last year at 2.9 percent. It was also the lowest rate since October 1966 when it was also 2.9 percent.  This was the lowest recorded rate for any month since seasonally adjusted record keeping began in 1960.

After seasonal adjustment, industries with better than seasonal change included trade, service, construction, transportation, and public utilities, and finance, insurance and real estate.

Construction was up 1,700 jobs over the month to 120,500.  The service industry also showed strong seasonal change over the month, up 1,900.

Trade reported a seasonal growth of 1,300 jobs over the month, to 614,500.  The Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector grew by 200 jobs over the month, and by 4,300 jobs over the year, to 147,100, indicating improvements when seasonally adjusted.

After seasonal adjustment, transportation and public utilities’ increased by 800 jobs over the month and 2,900 jobs over the year, to 129,400.  Mining and nondurable manufacturing also experienced normal seasonal job increases.

The durable goods sector of manufacturing was weak losing 1,500 jobs after adjustment.

Seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates were unchanged or down in 10 of Wisconsin’s largest urban areas over the month, and ranged from 1.3 percent in Madison to 4.2 percent in Racine.  Eau Claire recorded the only increase, up from 3.0 in mid-March to 3.5 percent in mid-April. Rates in Janesville-Beloit (3.9 per cent), LaCrosse (2.5 percent) and Racine (4.2 percent) were unchanged over the month.

The seasonally-adjusted rates were down or unchanged over the year in five of the areas and up in six.  Rates in these same urban areas a year ago ranged from 1.3 to 3.7 per cent.

The rate for a 12^th area, Duluth-Superior, declined over the month from 4.1 to 3.9 per cent and also was down from the year-ago April rate of 4.4 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.