Wednesday, September 26, 2001  Governor Scott McCallum  Secretary Jennifer Reinert | News Media Contact Christopher Marschman 608/261-6705 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784 | Contact: Terry Ludeman, 608/267-3262 SEPTEMBER LOCAL EMPLOYMENT FIGURES RELEASED MADISON – Wisconsin’s statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for the month of September dropped from 4.0 percent to 3.4 percent, while the state’s seasonally adjusted rate fell to 4.0 percent in September, as announced last week. Sixty-eight counties had lower rates reported for September than for August, while only two, Rock County and Vilas County, saw higher rates. "Though concerns remain over the national slowdown in manufacturing and the effects of September 11, we are encouraged by the fact that Wisconsin continues to experience relatively low unemployment and overall job growth," DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert said. Thirty-four of Wisconsin’s seventy-two counties had unemployment rates of 3.0 percent or lower for September, in estimates released by the Department of Workforce Development. Nine of those were 2.5 percent or lower. Twenty-four of the state’s counties had unemployment rates higher than the Wisconsin’s estimated 3.4 percent. The highest rate in the state was experienced in Menominee County, where the September rate was estimated at 9.2 percent. The next highest was found in Juneau County, where the rate was estimated to be 7.0 percent. Dane County had the State’s lowest rate at 1.6 percent, with Pierce County close behind at 1.8 percent. Surprisingly, twenty-two counties in the State had lower rates than one year ago. Manufacturing continues to be Wisconsin’s weak industrial sector, having lost some 27,000 jobs since last year’s September figure. Consequently, the areas where residents are most likely to be employed in the manufacturing sector, particularly the machinery manufacturing industries, are the areas with the highest unemployment rates. These areas include Dodge County, Racine County, Milwaukee County and Rock County. Cities most affected include Beloit, Janesville, Milwaukee and Racine with estimated rates of 7.7 percent, 5.9 percent, 6.9 percent and 9.2 percent respectively. In September, there were 2,857,000 jobs reported in Wisconsin’s nonfarm wage and salary economy. One year ago there were 2,856,000. The average monthly job total for January 2001 through September 2001 has been 2,835,433, while for the same period in 2000, that figure was 2,823,330, an increase of 12,103 over that period. (end) Employment and Labor Force Household Survey | Unadjusted estimates | Sept. 2001 | Aug. 2001 | Sept. 2000 | | Total labor force | 3,038,900 | 3,081,400 | 2,951,600 | | Employed | 2,936,000 | 2,959,600 | 2,864,800 | | Unemployed | 103,000 | 121,800 | 86,800 | | Wis. Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 4.0% | 2.9% | | U.S. Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.9% | 3.8% | | Seasonably adjusted | Sept. 2001 | Aug. 2001 | Sept.. 2000 | | Total labor force | 3,049,900 | 3,049,000 | 2,959,400 | | Employed | 2,927,200 | 2,918,700 | 2,854,300 | | Unemployed | 122,700 | 130,300 | 105,100 | | Wis. Unemployment | 4.0% | 4.3% | 3.6% | | U.S. Unemployment | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3.9% | September State Rank  *August Area Rank | Unemployment % seasonally adjusted | Sept. 2001 | Aug. 2001 | Sept. 2000 | | 16th | Wisconsin | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.6 | | 68th | Appleton-Oshkosh | 3.3 | 3.6 | 2.6 | | 171st | Eau Claire | 4.4 | 5.0 | 3.5 | | 98th | Green Bay | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.6 | | 235th | Janesville-Beloit | 6.1 | 5.1 | 4.6 | | 179th | Kenosha | 4.1 | 4.6 | 3.3 | | 57th | La Crosse | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.2 | | 3rd | Madison | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.6 | | 214th | Milwaukee-Waukesha | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.7 | | 306th | Racine | 6.3 | 6.9 | 4.5 | | 57th | Sheboygan | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.2 | | 80th | Wausau | 3.2 | 4.0 | 3.6 | - This is the latest available data for the U.S.’s 331 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 metropolitan areas are seasonally-adjusted and for the current month.
- **State ranking is seasonally adjusted
- *Metropolitan ranking is not seasonally adjusted and is for the prior month
| Source *Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Maps of September 2001 Unemployment Rates by County | WISCONSIN COUNTIES Unemployment Rates September 2001 Not Seasonally Adjusted) | RANK | COUNTY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | RANK | COUNTY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 38 | | ADAMS | 3.1% | 3.5% | 45 | 2.8% | | 63 | | MARATHON | 2.6% | 3.3% | 49 | 2.8% | | 13 | | ASHLAND | 4.0% | 5.5% | 10 | 5.3% | | 9 | | MARINETTE | 4.5% | 5.4% | 11 | 4.3% | | 44 | | BARRON | 3.0% | 3.3% | 53 | 4.1% | | 10 | | MARQUETTE | 4.4% | 4.7% | 17 | 4.3% | | 41 | | BAYFIELD | 3.0% | 3.6% | 40 | 3.6% | | 1 | | MENOMINEE | 9.2% | 11.4% | 1 | 9.1% | | 43 | | BROWN | 3.0% | 3.5% | 44 | 2.3% | | 8 | | MILWAUKEE | 4.9% | 5.7% | 6 | 4.6% | | 69 | | BUFFALO | 2.1% | 2.9% | 65 | 1.7% | | 6 | | MONROE | 5.1% | 6.6% | 4 | 3.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | BURNETT | 3.9% | 4.6% | 18 | 2.5% | | 7 | | OCONTO | 5.1% | 5.7% | 7 | 3.3% | | 33 | | CALUMET | 3.2% | 3.5% | 46 | 2.2% | | 52 | | ONEIDA | 2.8% | 4.4% | 23 | 3.5% | | 19 | | CHIPPEWA | 3.7% | 4.8% | 15 | 2.7% | | 57 | | OUTAGAMIE | 2.8% | 3.2% | 56 | 2.1% | | 11 | | CLARK | 4.2% | 4.9% | 14 | 3.8% | | 66 | | OZAUKEE | 2.4% | 2.9% | 66 | 2.0% | | 29 | | COLUMBIA | 3.3% | 3.8% | 37 | 3.2% | | 35 | | PEPIN | 3.1% | 4.0% | 33 | 2.9% | | 37 | | CRAWFORD | 3.1% | 3.6% | 42 | 2.8% | | 71 | | PIERCE | 1.8% | 2.7% | 68 | 2.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 72 | | DANE | 1.6% | 1.8% | 72 | 1.5% | | 25 | | POLK | 3.5% | 4.1% | 31 | 3.1% | | 14 | | DODGE | 4.0% | 4.6% | 19 | 2.3% | | 61 | | PORTAGE | 2.7% | 4.4% | 22 | 2.5% | | 60 | | DOOR | 2.8% | 2.8% | 67 | 2.4% | | 18 | | PRICE | 3.8% | 5.6% | 9 | 4.4% | | 62 | | DOUGLAS | 2.6% | 3.8% | 35 | 3.0% | | 3 | | RACINE | 5.6% | 6.7% | 3 | 3.9% | | 58 | | DUNN | 2.8% | 3.1% | 60 | 2.3% | | 45 | | RICHLAND | 3.0% | 3.2% | 58 | 4.2% | | 32 | | EAU CLAIRE | 3.2% | 3.9% | 34 | 2.6% | | 5 | | ROCK | 5.4% | 4.8% | 16 | 4.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | | FLORENCE | 3.6% | 4.2% | 29 | 4.4% | | 16 | | RUSK | 3.9% | 5.3% | 13 | 4.4% | | 42 | | FOND DU LAC | 3.0% | 3.6% | 41 | 2.6% | | 70 | | SAUK | 2.1% | 2.5% | 70 | 2.1% | | 24 | | FOREST | 3.5% | 5.6% | 8 | 4.2% | | 53 | | SAWYER | 2.8% | 3.5% | 43 | 3.5% | | 23 | | GRANT | 3.6% | 4.1% | 32 | 3.0% | | 12 | | SHAWANO | 4.1% | 4.4% | 26 | 3.2% | | 47 | | GREEN | 3.0% | 3.1% | 63 | 2.9% | | 59 | | SHEBOYGAN | 2.8% | 3.1% | 61 | 2.1% | | 34 | | GREEN LAKE | 3.1% | 4.4% | 24 | 2.4% | | 68 | | ST. CROIX | 2.1% | 3.2% | 54 | 2.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 64 | | IOWA | 2.5% | 2.7% | 69 | 2.2% | | 65 | | TAYLOR | 2.4% | 3.0% | 64 | 2.6% | | 20 | | IRON | 3.7% | 4.4% | 25 | 3.9% | | 40 | | TREMPEALEAU | 3.0% | 3.8% | 36 | 2.7% | | 54 | | JACKSON | 2.8% | 3.3% | 50 | 3.7% | | 36 | | VERNON | 3.1% | 3.7% | 38 | 2.8% | | 49 | | JEFFERSON | 2.9% | 3.3% | 52 | 2.2% | | 67 | | VILAS | 2.4% | 2.1% | 71 | 2.5% | | 2 | | JUNEAU | 7.0% | 7.7% | 2 | 4.8% | | 46 | | WALWORTH | 3.0% | 3.2% | 59 | 2.2% | | 21 | | KENOSHA | 3.7% | 4.2% | 30 | 2.9% | | 28 | | WASHBURN | 3.4% | 4.2% | 28 | 3.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30 | | KEWAUNEE | 3.3% | 3.7% | 39 | 2.2% | | 50 | | WASHINGTON | 2.9% | 3.2% | 57 | 2.6% | | 55 | | LA CROSSE | 2.8% | 3.3% | 51 | 2.6% | | 56 | | WAUKESHA | 2.8% | 3.2% | 55 | 2.2% | | 26 | | LAFAYETTE | 3.5% | 3.5% | 48 | 3.5% | | 31 | | WAUPACA | 3.3% | 3.5% | 47 | 2.8% | | 4 | | LANGLADE | 5.5% | 6.6% | 5 | 4.0% | | 48 | | WAUSHARA | 2.9% | 5.3% | 12 | 3.0% | | 27 | | LINCOLN | 3.4% | 4.5% | 20 | 3.5% | | 51 | | WINNEBAGO | 2.9% | 3.1% | 62 | 2.4% | | 15 | | MANITOWOC | 4.0% | 4.5% | 21 | 2.9% | | 39 | | WOOD | 3.0% | 4.3% | 27 | 3.4% | | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information and Customer Service | WISCONSIN CITIES Unemployment Rates September 2001 (Not Seasonally Adjusted) | RANK | CITY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | | | | | | | | | 16 | | APPLETON CITY | 3.7% | 4.2% | 17 | 2.8% | | 2 | | BELOIT CITY | 7.7% | 8.7% | 2 | 6.2% | | 27 | | BROOKFIELD CITY | 2.3% | 2.6% | 26 | 2.1% | | 13 | | EAU CLAIRE CITY | 3.8% | 4.6% | 10 | 3.1% | | 10 | | FOND DU LAC CITY | 4.0% | 5.0% | 8 | 3.1% | | 22 | | FRANKLIN CITY | 3.0% | 3.5% | 22 | 2.4% | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | GREEN BAY CITY | 4.7% | 5.6% | 6 | 3.6% | | 24 | | GREENFIELD CITY | 2.7% | 2.6% | 27 | 2.2% | | 4 | | JANESVILLE CITY | 5.9% | 4.4% | 12 | 4.3% | | 7 | | KENOSHA CITY | 4.6% | 5.3% | 7 | 3.6% | | 15 | | LA CROSSE CITY | 3.7% | 4.3% | 15 | 3.4% | | 28 | | MADISON CITY | 1.8% | 2.1% | 28 | 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | MANITOWOC CITY | 5.0% | 5.7% | 5 | 3.3% | | 26 | | MENOMONEE FALLS CITY | 2.6% | 3.0% | 24 | 1.7% | | 3 | | MILWAUKEE CITY | 6.9% | 8.0% | 3 | 6.5% | | 8 | | NEENAH CITY | 4.4% | 4.1% | 18 | 2.7% | | 23 | | NEW BERLIN CITY | 2.7% | 2.8% | 25 | 2.1% | | 14 | | OAK CREEK CITY | 3.8% | 4.4% | 11 | 2.6% | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | OSHKOSH CITY | 3.3% | 3.9% | 20 | 3.1% | | 1 | | RACINE CITY | 9.2% | 11.5% | 1 | 6.4% | | 20 | | SHEBOYGAN CITY | 3.3% | 3.7% | 21 | 2.4% | | 11 | | STEVENS POINT CITY | 3.9% | 5.9% | 4 | 3.5% | | 25 | | SUPERIOR CITY | 2.6% | 4.0% | 19 | 3.2% | | 9 | | WAUKESHA CITY | 4.1% | 4.8% | 9 | 3.1% | | 17 | | WAUSAU CITY | 3.5% | 4.3% | 13 | 4.1% | | 21 | | WAUWATOSA CITY | 3.1% | 3.3% | 23 | 2.6% | | 18 | | WEST ALLIS CITY | 3.5% | 4.3% | 14 | 3.2% | | 12 | | WEST BEND CITY | 3.9% | 4.3% | 16 | 3.9% | | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information and Customer Service WISCONSIN LABOR FORCE SUMMARY IN THOUSANDS | | | | | | Net Change From | | ITEM | Prelim. Sept. 2001 | Final Aug. 2001 | Year Ago Sept. 2000 | Month Ago | Year Ago | | | | | | | | | PLACE OF RESIDENCE DATA | | | | | | | | | CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE | 3038.9 | 3081.4 | 2951.6 | -42.5 | 87.3 | | UNEMPLOYMENT | 103.0 | 121.8 | 86.8 | -18.8 | 16.2 | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 3.4 | 4.0 | 2.9 | -0.6 | 0.5 | | EMPLOYMENT (1) | 2936.0 | 2959.6 | 2864.8 | -23.6 | 71.2 | | | | | | | | | PLACE OF WORK DATA | | | | | | | NONFARM WAGE & SALARY | 2857 | 2853.8 | 2856 | 3.2 | 1.0 | | MANUFACTURING | 591.3 | 597.4 | 618.4 | -6.1 | -27.1 | | DURABLE GOODS | 352.7 | 356.4 | 374.6 | -3.7 | -21.9 | | Lumber and Wood Products | 31 | 31.6 | 32.3 | -0.6 | -1.3 | | Furniture and Fixtures | 18.5 | 18.7 | 18.9 | -0.2 | -0.4 | | Stone, Clay & Glass Products | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.8 | -0.2 | -0.4 | | Primary Metal Industries | 23.8 | 23.8 | 25.9 | 0.0 | -2.1 | | Fabricated Metal Products | 63.2 | 63.8 | 67.7 | -0.6 | -4.5 | | Nonelectrical Machinery | 101.8 | 102.7 | 108.3 | -0.9 | -6.5 | | Electrical Machinery | 41.3 | 41.9 | 46.5 | -0.6 | -5.2 | | Transportation Equipment | 32.8 | 33.3 | 34.1 | -0.5 | -1.3 | Prof., Scient. & Control Instruments | 17.7 | 18 | 18 | -0.3 | -0.3 | | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 11.2 | 11 | 11.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | | | | | | | | | NONDURABLE GOODS | 238.6 | 241 | 243.7 | -2.4 | -5.1 | | Food and Kindred Products | 72.4 | 72.8 | 71.4 | -0.4 | 1.0 | | Textile Mill Products | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.1 | -0.1 | Apparel & Other Finished Products | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Paper and Allied Products | 50.5 | 51.2 | 51.6 | -0.7 | -1.1 | | Printing, Publishing & Allied | 53.3 | 53.9 | 54.6 | -0.6 | -1.3 | | Chemicals and Allied Products | 15.1 | 15.2 | 14.9 | -0.1 | 0.2 | Rubber & Misc. Plastic Products | 35.9 | 36.4 | 39.2 | -0.5 | -3.3 | | Leather & Leather Products | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | -0.1 | -0.6 | | All Other Nondurable Goods | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | | | | | | | | | MINING | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 0.0 | -0.3 | | CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION | 134.9 | 137.4 | 136 | -2.5 | -1.1 | TRANS, COMM, ELEC, GAS & SAN. SERV. | 137.9 | 134.5 | 136 | 3.4 | 1.9 | | TRADE | 639.8 | 646.3 | 640.2 | -6.5 | -0.4 | | WHOLESALE TRADE | 137.5 | 139.4 | 139.6 | -1.9 | -2.1 | | RETAIL TRADE | 502.2 | 506.9 | 500.7 | -4.7 | 1.5 | FINANCE, INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE | 152.5 | 153.5 | 149.2 | -1.0 | 3.3 | | SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS | 793.1 | 800.8 | 776.8 | -7.7 | 16.3 | | GOVERNMENT | 404.8 | 381 | 396.3 | 23.8 | 8.5 | | FEDERAL | 30 | 30.2 | 29.8 | -0.2 | 0.2 | | STATE | 98.8 | 95.6 | 93.2 | 3.2 | 5.6 | | LOCAL | 276.1 | 255.3 | 273.3 | 20.8 | 2.8 | | | | | | | | PERSONS INVOLVED IN L-M DISPUTES | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | (1) Includes L-M Disputes | | SEASONALLY ADJUSTED LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES | | CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE | 3049.9 | 3049.0 | 2959.4 | 0.9 | 90.5 | | UNEMPLOYMENT | 122.7 | 130.3 | 105.1 | -7.6 | 17.6 | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.6 | -0.3 | 0.4 | | EMPLOYMENT | 2927.2 | 2918.7 | 2854.3 | 8.5 | 72.9 | | NONFARM WAGE & SALARY | 2857.0 | 2853.8 | 2856.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | | News Release Index Page |