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Wisconsin News Release: Madison Has Lowest Unemployment Rate in the Nation

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Thursday, September 2, 1999
Governor
Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
Linda Stewart

News Media Contact
Heidi Kafura
608/264-6811
e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us
fax: 608/266-1784

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

MADISON HAS LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE NATION
Statewide Employment Picture Remains Strong

MADISON— The State Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced that in July the Madison metropolitan area had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.

Of the 329 metropolitan areas in the country, Madison’s June unemployment rate was the nation’s lowest unemployment rate before adjustment. Madison’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 1.4 percent in July.

Wisconsin’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate at 3.0 percent remained almost unchanged from last month’s record tying low of 2.9 percent according to preliminary data released by DWD.

"More people are working in Wisconsin than ever before. That’s a tribute to the resilience and work ethic of our people and the health and diversity of our economy," said Orlando Canto, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development.

The size of the seasonally adjusted labor force increased over the month. Employment increased more than normal over the year experiencing an increase of 25,700. In addition, unemployment was down sharply over the year, showing a decline of 20,000.

The state had a 3.0 unemployment rate back in 1966. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, and the state’s unemployment rate has been below the national average every month since January 1988.

The nonfarm payroll potion of the labor force reflected the summer shutdown of schools with the number of government jobs declining by 26,400 and the number of salary jobs declining by 25,400.

The manufacturing industry experienced a loss of 2,400 jobs in durable goods and 400 in nondurable goods after seasonal adjustment. The retail trade decline exceeded the normal seasonal drop by 2,300.

Over the year job gains at 29,500 were in line with the total employment gain of 23,500. All major industry groups contributed to the overall job gain except for manufacturing which had a job loss of 4,000 and mining with a loss of 200.

The metropolitan areas of the state experienced overwhelming job gains, with an increase in 31,600. The metropolitan areas of the state experienced job gains in construction. Most of the manufacturing job loss of 4,000 occurred in the balance or non-metropolitan portion of the state with only a net of 800 in the metropolitan area. Transportation and public utilities job increased by 3,100 in metro areas and lost 2,300 in the non-metro balance of the state. Trade gained 6,700 in metro areas and lost 3,700 in the balance of the state.

Job gains in services and finance, insurance and real estate groups were split between the metro and non-metro areas. Government gains were mostly in the metro areas.

Seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates were down 10 of the Wisconsin’s largest urban areas over the year, and ranged from 1.4 percent in Madison to 4.7 percent in Janesville-Beloit.

The rate for a 12^th area, Duluth-Superior, declined over the month from 4.3 percent to 3.5 percent. The year-ago July rate was also 3.5 percent. 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	July 1999	June 1999	July 1998
Total labor force	3,029,400	3,022,400	3,026,000
Employed	2,940,500	2,929,100	2,917,100
Unemployed	88,900	93,300	108,900
Wis. Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.1%	3.6%
U.S. Unemployment Rate	4.5%	4.5%	4.7%

Seasonally adjusted	July 1999	June 1999	July 1998
Total labor force	2,962,200	2,953,400	2,955,500
Employed	2,874,400	2,868,800	2,848,700
Unemployed	87,800	84,500	106,800
Wis. Unemployment	3.0%	2.9%	3.6%
U.S. Unemployment	4.3%	4.3%	4.5%

* Metro National rank June 1999	Unemployment % seasonally adjusted	July 1999	June 1999	July 1998
11^th	Wisconsin	3.0%	2.9%	3.6%
43^rd	Appleton-Oshkosh	2.3%	2.4%	2.7%
78^th	Eau Claire	3.1%	3.0%	3.2%
32^nd	Green Bay	2.3%	2.2%	2.7%
126^th	Janesville-Beloit	4.7%	3.1%	10.9%
105^th	Kenosha	3.1%	3.1%	4.0%
73^rd	La Crosse	2.8%	2.9%	2.7%
1^st	Madison	1.4%	1.3%	1.7%
97^th	Milwaukee-Waukesha	3.1%	2.9%	3.5%
211^th	Racine	4.2%	4.3%	4.4%
18^th	Sheboygan	2.4%	1.9%	3.0%
67^th	Wausau	3.0%	2.9%	3.4%
This is the latest available data for the U.S.’s 329 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. *State ranking is seasonally adjusted for the current month Metropolitan ranking is not seasonally adjusted and is for the prior month

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Non-Farm Wage & Salary
Employer Survey
In Thousands

	July 1999	June 1999	Year Ago	+/- month	+/– year
NONFARM WAGE & SALARY	2754.3	2779.7	2724.8	-25.4	29.5

MANUFACTURING	616.7	617.3	620.7	-0.6	-4.0
DURABLE GOODS .	374.3	378.2	375.1	-3.9	-0.8
Lumber and Wood Products	33.4	33.1	32.7	0.3	0.7
Furniture and Fixtures	17.9	17.6	17.3	0.3	0.6
Stone, Clay & Glass Products	11.5	11.4	11.5	0.1	0.0
Primary Metal Industries	25.4	25.4	25.6	0.0	-0.2
Fabricated Metal Products	68.7	68.4	70.0	0.3	-1.3
Nonelectrical Machinery	113.1	114.2	115.0	-1.1	-1.9
Electrical Machinery	45.2	44.8	46.7	0.4	-1.5
Transportation Equipment .	30.5	34.4	27.1	-3.9	3.4
Prof., Scient. & Control Instr	18.3	18.3	17.7	0.0	0.6
Miscellaneous Manufacturing	10.5	10.6	11.4	-0.1	-0.9

NONDURABLE GOODS	242.4	239.1	245.6	3.3	-3.2
Food and Kindred Products	68.0	64.5	69.9	3.5	-1.9
Textile Mill Products	2.6	2.6	2.9	0.0	-0.3
Apparel & Other Finished Products	6.4	6.4	6.4	0.0	0.0
Paper and Allied Products.	53.2	53.0	53.9	0.2	-0.7
Printing, Publishing & Allied	55.4	55.4	55.9	0.0	-0.5
Chemicals and Allied Products	15.1	15.2	15.0	-0.1	0.1
Rubber & Misc. Plastic Products	37.4	37.6	37.1	-0.2	0.3
Leather & Leather Products	3.8	3.9	4.2	-0.1	-0.4
All Other Nondurable Goods	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.0	0.1

MINING	2.9	2.9	3.1	0.0	-0.2
CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION	128.8	126.3	124.4	2.5	4.4
TRANS, COMM, ELEC, GAS	125.9	128.9	125.1	-3.0	0.8
TRADE	620.4	623.6	617.4	-3.2	3.0
WHOLESALE TRADE	141.1	140.7	138.8	0.4	2.3
RETAIL TRADE	479.2	482.9	478.6	-3.7	0.6
FINANCE, INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE	150.0	149.1	145.7	0.9	4.3
SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS	737.1	732.7	720.7	4.4	16.4

GOVERNMENT	372.5	398.9	367.8	-26.4	4.7
FEDERAL	29.7	29.6	29.6	0.1	0.1
STATE	95.0	95.5	93.0	-0.5	2.0
LOCAL	247.9	273.8	245.2	-25.9	2.7

PERSONS INVOLVED IN L-M DISPUTES	0.0	0.0	1.5	0.0	-1.5

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Maps of July 1999 Unemployment Rates by County

Unemployment by County
July 1999
Not seasonally adjusted

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

53	ADAMS	2.4%	2.8%	53	3.4%	43	MARATHON	2.6%	2.9%	50	3.1%
2	ASHLAND	6.1%	7.4%	2	7.4%	12	MARINETTE	4.1%	4.5%	15	6.0%
34	BARRON	2.9%	3.3%	38	3.3%	32	MARQUETTE	2.9%	4.2%	19	3.8%
14	BAYFIELD	3.9%	5.1%	9	5.1%	1	MENOMINEE	8.7%	13.0%	1	8.1%
63	BROWN	2.3%	2.5%	60	2.7%	13	MILWAUKEE	4.0%	4.1%	22	4.6%
67	BUFFALO	2.1%	2.8%	51	2.6%	23	MONROE	3.4%	3.7%	25	3.5%

26	BURNETT	3.2%	4.2%	20	3.0%	15	OCONTO	3.8%	4.1%	21	4.5%
56	CALUMET	2.4%	2.4%	63	2.6%	39	ONEIDA	2.8%	3.5%	29	3.4%
41	CHIPPEWA	2.7%	3.5%	28	2.9%	61	OUTAGAMIE	2.3%	2.6%	58	2.5%
17	CLARK	3.7%	4.5%	14	4.3%	57	OZAUKEE	2.4%	2.0%	71	2.5%
38	COLUMBIA	2.8%	3.6%	26	3.4%	40	PEPIN	2.8%	3.3%	37	3.3%
37	CRAWFORD	2.9%	3.2%	42	3.6%	54	PIERCE	2.4%	2.5%	61	2.3%

72	DANE	1.3%	1.4%	72	1.6%	35	POLK	2.9%	3.3%	39	2.9%
55	DODGE	2.4%	2.5%	62	2.8%	30	PORTAGE	3.0%	3.5%	31	3.6%
50	DOOR	2.4%	3.3%	36	3.2%	7	PRICE	4.7%	6.6%	5	4.1%
21	DOUGLAS	3.5%	4.4%	17	4.2%	6	RACINE	4.9%	4.5%	16	5.1%
52	DUNN	2.4%	2.9%	46	2.7%	24	RICHLAND	3.4%	2.8%	55	2.9%
46	EAU CLAIRE	2.5%	2.9%	47	2.7%	3	ROCK	6.1%	3.6%	27	13.6%

4	FLORENCE	5.6%	5.9%	6	6.5%	20	RUSK	3.5%	5.1%	8	3.9%
48	FOND DU LAC	2.5%	2.9%	49	2.9%	71	SAUK	2.0%	2.3%	65	2.5%
11	FOREST	4.1%	5.2%	7	7.6%	22	SAWYER	3.4%	4.6%	12	4.5%
31	GRANT	3.0%	3.4%	34	3.7%	36	SHAWANO	2.9%	3.3%	40	3.2%
27	GREEN	3.2%	3.5%	33	4.8%	49	SHEBOYGAN	2.5%	2.2%	70	3.2%
65	GREEN LAKE	2.2%	3.0%	43	3.2%	70	ST. CROIX	2.0%	2.3%	64	2.1%

62	IOWA	2.3%	2.5%	59	2.5%	51	TAYLOR	2.4%	3.2%	41	3.0%
8	IRON	4.5%	6.6%	4	6.5%	44	TREMPEALEAU	2.6%	2.8%	54	3.0%
59	JACKSON	2.3%	2.8%	52	3.1%	25	VERNON	3.3%	3.7%	24	3.9%
64	JEFFERSON	2.3%	2.3%	67	2.9%	58	VILAS	2.3%	3.0%	44	2.2%
5	JUNEAU	5.2%	6.7%	3	5.7%	45	WALWORTH	2.6%	2.3%	68	3.2%
9	KENOSHA	4.3%	3.4%	35	5.4%	19	WASHBURN	3.6%	4.3%	18	4.1%

60	KEWAUNEE	2.3%	2.6%	57	3.1%	69	WASHINGTON	2.1%	2.3%	66	2.7%
47	LA CROSSE	2.5%	2.9%	48	2.6%	66	WAUKESHA	2.2%	2.2%	69	2.5%
29	LAFAYETTE	3.1%	3.5%	32	3.4%	42	WAUPACA	2.6%	3.0%	45	2.7%
10	LANGLADE	4.2%	4.7%	11	5.3%	16	WAUSHARA	3.7%	4.8%	10	4.2%
18	LINCOLN	3.6%	4.5%	13	3.8%	68	WINNEBAGO	2.1%	2.6%	56	2.5%
33	MANITOWOC	2.9%	3.5%	30	3.1%	28	WOOD	3.1%	3.8%	23	3.9%

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development