Department of Workforce Development

Contact: August Cibarich, 608/266-0522

NOVEMBER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RELEASED

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for the month of November was 3.0 percent, unchanged from the month of October.

"Labor market figures remained mostly steady in November, indicating that Wisconsin’s economy continues to look healthy," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert. "For the second consecutive month, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate hovered only slightly above the state’s record low of 2.8 percent set in January and February of this year."

Little change occurred over the month in the Wisconsin labor force. The unemployment rate remained at 3.0 percent and total employment, unemployment and the labor force levels had only minor changes on the seasonally adjusted basis.

Total employment, unemployment and the labor force all declined by small amounts in November, seasonally adjusted.

The number of non-farm wage and salary jobs increased by 3,900 after seasonal adjustment.

The trade and government industries had large over the month and year increases in jobs before and after adjustment for the normal seasonal changes. Service industry jobs gained only 7,500 jobs over the year, a much smaller gain than Wisconsin has gained in recent years, while construction industry jobs, and finance, insurance and real estate jobs had strong over the year gains of 3,300 and 2,400 respectively.

The national unemployment rate for the month of November increased one tenth of a percentage point to 4.0 percent, marking the 154^th consecutive month that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate.

NOTE TO NEWS MEDIA

County employment and unemployment figures for November should be available on December 28. This release and other labor market information is available on the department Internet site at: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dwelmi

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