Wednesday, November 21, 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 OCTOBER LOCAL EMPLOYMENT FIGURES RELEASED MADISON – Forty-six of Wisconsin’s seventy-two counties had estimated unemployment rates of 4.0 or less for the month of October, according to figures released today by the Department of Workforce Development. The state’s preliminary statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month of October, as released last week, rose from 4.0 percent to 4.5 percent. "The mixed signals that continue to dominate recent news regarding the status of the economy are reflected in the October local employment information released today," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert. As an example, Secretary Reinert said that nine of the state’s eleven metropolitan areas saw decreases in manufacturing jobs and two had no change for a total loss of 3,300 in October. At the same time, she noted, nine metropolitan areas increased total jobs by some 9,100, for a net gain of 5,800 jobs in the eleven metropolitan areas over the month. Thirty-three of Wisconsin’s seventy-two counties had estimated unemployment rates of 3.5 percent or lower in October. Twelve counties had unemployment rates of 4.7 percent or higher. Menominee County, with an estimated rate of 9.9 percent had the state’s highest rate, followed by Juneau County at 8.0 percent, and Racine and Langlade counties at 6.2 percent. Dane County had the state’s lowest rate at 1.8 percent, followed by Iowa County at 2.5 percent. Sixty-four of Wisconsin’s seventy-two counties had higher rates in October than they experienced one year ago. Six had lower rates this October and two were unchanged from one year ago. Six counties saw lower October rates than they had experienced in September, while sixty-four counties experienced higher rates, and two were unchanged. "In general, counties with a high concentration of workers in manufacturing, especially in the durable goods manufacturing industries, are the counties most affected by the national economic slowdown," Reinert said. The State of Wisconsin has had a monthly average unemployment rate of 4.3 percent for the first ten months of 2001. Twenty-two counties have had lower average monthly rates than the state, while fifty counties have experienced higher average monthly rates than the state. Normally, the state’s unemployment rate increases a very small amount between October and November-December. (end) Employment and Labor Force Household Survey | Unadjusted estimates | Oct. 2001 | Sept. 2001 | Oct. 2000 | | Total labor force | 3,050,800 | 3,038,300 | 2,971,800 | | Employed | 2,932,500 | 2,935,000 | 2,890,100 | | Unemployed | 118,300 | 103,200 | 81,700 | | Wis. Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.7% | | U.S. Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 4.7% | 3.6% | | Seasonably adjusted | Oct. 2001 | Sept. 2001 | Oct.. 2000 | | Total labor force | 3,055,100 | 3,049,200 | 2,974,200 | | Employed | 2,917,900 | 2,926,200 | 2,875,800 | | Unemployed | 137,200 | 123,000 | 98,400 | | Wis. Unemployment | 4.5% | 4.0% | 3.3% | | U.S. Unemployment | 5.4% | 4.9% | 3.9% | October State Rank  *September Area Rank | Unemployment % seasonally adjusted | Oct. 2001 | Sept. 2001 | Oct. 2000 | | 16th | Wisconsin | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.3 | | 44th | Appleton-Oshkosh | 3.9 | 3.3 | 2.5 | | 87th | Eau Claire | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.1 | | 52nd | Green Bay | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.4 | | 265th | Janesville-Beloit | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.3 | | 120th | Kenosha | 5.1 | 4.1 | 3.0 | | 37th | La Crosse | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.2 | | 3rd | Madison | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.6 | | 154th | Milwaukee-Waukesha | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.4 | | 283rd | Racine | 7.0 | 6.3 | 4.1 | | 37th | Sheboygan | 4.0 | 3.1 | 2.2 | | 28th | Wausau | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.0 | - 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 October 2001 Unemployment Rates by County | WISCONSIN COUNTIES Unemployment Rates October 2001 Not Seasonally Adjusted) | RANK | COUNTY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | RANK | COUNTY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46 | | ADAMS | 3.3% | 3.1% | 35 | 2.7% | | 66 | | MARATHON | 2.9% | 2.6% | 64 | 2.4% | | 13 | | ASHLAND | 4.7% | 4.0% | 14 | 4.6% | | 12 | | MARINETTE | 4.9% | 4.5% | 9 | 3.8% | | 38 | | BARRON | 3.6% | 2.9% | 50 | 3.9% | | 7 | | MARQUETTE | 5.5% | 4.4% | 10 | 4.4% | | 37 | | BAYFIELD | 3.6% | 3.0% | 45 | 3.9% | | 1 | | MENOMINEE | 9.9% | 10.1% | 1 | 8.6% | | 44 | | BROWN | 3.4% | 3.0% | 43 | 2.1% | | 8 | | MILWAUKEE | 5.4% | 4.9% | 8 | 4.1% | | 56 | | BUFFALO | 3.2% | 2.6% | 65 | 2.1% | | 11 | | MONROE | 4.9% | 5.1% | 6 | 3.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 23 | | BURNETT | 4.1% | 3.9% | 17 | 2.3% | | 6 | | OCONTO | 5.7% | 5.1% | 7 | 3.4% | | 31 | | CALUMET | 3.9% | 3.2% | 33 | 2.8% | | 51 | | ONEIDA | 3.3% | 2.8% | 58 | 3.3% | | 21 | | CHIPPEWA | 4.2% | 3.7% | 20 | 2.6% | | 52 | | OUTAGAMIE | 3.3% | 2.8% | 59 | 2.0% | | 18 | | CLARK | 4.4% | 4.1% | 11 | 3.7% | | 62 | | OZAUKEE | 3.0% | 2.4% | 70 | 1.8% | | 33 | | COLUMBIA | 3.8% | 3.3% | 31 | 3.1% | | 47 | | PEPIN | 3.3% | 3.1% | 36 | 3.1% | | 63 | | CRAWFORD | 2.9% | 3.0% | 40 | 2.5% | | 61 | | PIERCE | 3.0% | 2.5% | 67 | 1.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 72 | | DANE | 1.8% | 1.6% | 72 | 1.4% | | 29 | | POLK | 3.9% | 3.5% | 25 | 2.7% | | 5 | | DODGE | 5.9% | 4.0% | 16 | 2.1% | | 65 | | PORTAGE | 2.9% | 2.7% | 63 | 2.5% | | 58 | | DOOR | 3.1% | 2.8% | 54 | 2.2% | | 36 | | PRICE | 3.6% | 3.7% | 19 | 4.1% | | 24 | | DOUGLAS | 4.1% | 3.4% | 29 | 3.1% | | 4 | | RACINE | 6.2% | 5.5% | 4 | 3.6% | | 67 | | DUNN | 2.8% | 2.7% | 62 | 1.9% | | 60 | | RICHLAND | 3.0% | 3.0% | 41 | 3.9% | | 40 | | EAU CLAIRE | 3.5% | 3.2% | 32 | 2.3% | | 9 | | ROCK | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5 | 5.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | FLORENCE | 5.2% | 4.0% | 15 | 3.1% | | 16 | | RUSK | 4.5% | 3.9% | 18 | 4.1% | | 35 | | FOND DU LAC | 3.7% | 3.0% | 46 | 2.5% | | 70 | | SAUK | 2.7% | 2.1% | 71 | 2.1% | | 26 | | FOREST | 4.0% | 3.5% | 26 | 4.4% | | 54 | | SAWYER | 3.2% | 2.8% | 56 | 3.3% | | 53 | | GRANT | 3.2% | 3.5% | 23 | 2.8% | | 15 | | SHAWANO | 4.5% | 4.0% | 12 | 3.0% | | 28 | | GREEN | 4.0% | 2.9% | 51 | 3.1% | | 34 | | SHEBOYGAN | 3.8% | 2.8% | 61 | 2.0% | | 25 | | GREEN LAKE | 4.1% | 3.1% | 39 | 2.3% | | 39 | | ST. CROIX | 3.6% | 2.8% | 60 | 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 71 | | IOWA | 2.5% | 2.5% | 66 | 2.0% | | 68 | | TAYLOR | 2.7% | 2.4% | 68 | 2.6% | | 19 | | IRON | 4.4% | 3.7% | 21 | 3.0% | | 43 | | TREMPEALEAU | 3.4% | 3.1% | 38 | 2.6% | | 59 | | JACKSON | 3.1% | 2.8% | 55 | 2.7% | | 48 | | VERNON | 3.3% | 3.1% | 37 | 2.8% | | 50 | | JEFFERSON | 3.3% | 2.9% | 48 | 2.1% | | 69 | | VILAS | 2.7% | 2.4% | 69 | 2.7% | | 2 | | JUNEAU | 8.0% | 7.0% | 2 | 4.4% | | 41 | | WALWORTH | 3.5% | 3.0% | 44 | 2.1% | | 17 | | KENOSHA | 4.5% | 3.7% | 22 | 2.6% | | 30 | | WASHBURN | 3.9% | 3.4% | 27 | 3.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 | | KEWAUNEE | 3.4% | 3.3% | 30 | 2.2% | | 49 | | WASHINGTON | 3.3% | 2.9% | 47 | 2.3% | | 64 | | LA CROSSE | 2.9% | 2.8% | 53 | 2.6% | | 55 | | WAUKESHA | 3.2% | 2.8% | 57 | 2.0% | | 32 | | LAFAYETTE | 3.8% | 3.5% | 24 | 3.1% | | 22 | | WAUPACA | 4.2% | 3.2% | 34 | 2.6% | | 3 | | LANGLADE | 6.2% | 5.6% | 3 | 4.9% | | 20 | | WAUSHARA | 4.3% | 2.9% | 52 | 2.6% | | 27 | | LINCOLN | 4.0% | 3.4% | 28 | 3.2% | | 45 | | WINNEBAGO | 3.4% | 2.9% | 49 | 2.2% | | 14 | | MANITOWOC | 4.6% | 4.0% | 13 | 3.1% | | 57 | | WOOD | 3.1% | 3.0% | 42 | 2.9% | | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information and Customer Service | WISCONSIN CITIES Unemployment Rates October 2001 (Not Seasonally Adjusted) | RANK | CITY | RATE | LAST RATE | LAST RANK | YR AGO RATE | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | APPLETON CITY | 4.3% | 3.7% | 16 | 2.6% | | 2 | | BELOIT CITY | 8.4% | 7.7% | 2 | 6.2% | | 27 | | BROOKFIELD CITY | 2.8% | 2.3% | 27 | 1.9% | | 17 | | EAU CLAIRE CITY | 4.1% | 3.8% | 12 | 2.7% | | 10 | | FOND DU LAC CITY | 4.7% | 3.9% | 11 | 3.2% | | 23 | | FRANKLIN CITY | 3.4% | 3.0% | 23 | 2.1% | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | GREEN BAY CITY | 5.5% | 4.7% | 6 | 3.3% | | 26 | | GREENFIELD CITY | 2.9% | 2.6% | 25 | 2.0% | | 8 | | JANESVILLE CITY | 4.9% | 5.8% | 4 | 5.9% | | 4 | | KENOSHA CITY | 5.7% | 4.6% | 7 | 3.3% | | 20 | | LA CROSSE CITY | 3.9% | 3.7% | 15 | 3.6% | | 28 | | MADISON CITY | 2.1% | 1.8% | 28 | 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | MANITOWOC CITY | 5.5% | 5.0% | 5 | 3.5% | | 25 | | MENOMONEE FALLS CITY | 3.0% | 2.6% | 26 | 1.6% | | 3 | | MILWAUKEE CITY | 7.6% | 6.9% | 3 | 5.8% | | 7 | | NEENAH CITY | 5.0% | 4.4% | 8 | 2.6% | | 24 | | NEW BERLIN CITY | 3.0% | 2.7% | 24 | 2.0% | | 13 | | OAK CREEK CITY | 4.4% | 3.8% | 13 | 2.4% | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | OSHKOSH CITY | 3.8% | 3.3% | 20 | 2.7% | | 1 | | RACINE CITY | 10.0% | 9.2% | 1 | 5.9% | | 9 | | SHEBOYGAN CITY | 4.8% | 3.3% | 21 | 2.4% | | 16 | | STEVENS POINT CITY | 4.1% | 3.9% | 10 | 3.4% | | 18 | | SUPERIOR CITY | 4.0% | 3.5% | 17 | 3.2% | | 11 | | WAUKESHA CITY | 4.6% | 4.1% | 9 | 2.8% | | 19 | | WAUSAU CITY | 4.0% | 3.4% | 19 | 3.3% | | 22 | | WAUWATOSA CITY | 3.5% | 3.1% | 22 | 2.5% | | 15 | | WEST ALLIS CITY | 4.2% | 3.5% | 18 | 2.9% | | 12 | | WEST BEND CITY | 4.5% | 3.8% | 14 | 3.4% | | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information and Customer Service WISCONSIN LABOR FORCE SUMMARY IN THOUSANDS | | | | | | Net Change From | | ITEM | Prelim. Oct. 2001 | Final Sept. 2001 | Year Ago Oct. 2000 | Month Ago | Year Ago | | | | | | | | | PLACE OF RESIDENCE DATA | | | | | | | | | CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE | 3050.8 | 3038.3 | 2971.8 | 12.5 | 79.0 | | UNEMPLOYMENT | 118.3 | 103.2 | 81.7 | 15.1 | 36.6 | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | | EMPLOYMENT (1) | 2932.5 | 2935.0 | 2890.1 | -2.5 | 42.4 | | | | | | | | | PLACE OF WORK DATA | | | | | | | NONFARM WAGE & SALARY | 2862.9 | 2855.3 | 2866.6 | 7.6 | -3.7 | | MANUFACTURING | 585.8 | 591.1 | 615.7 | -5.3 | -29.9 | | DURABLE GOODS | 349.5 | 352.2 | 374.3 | -2.7 | -24.8 | | Lumber and Wood Products | 30.8 | 31 | 32.1 | -0.2 | -1.3 | | Furniture and Fixtures | 18.2 | 18.4 | 19.1 | -0.2 | -0.9 | | Stone, Clay & Glass Products | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.6 | 0.0 | -0.1 | | Primary Metal Industries | 23.9 | 23.9 | 25.8 | 0.0 | -1.9 | | Fabricated Metal Products | 62.7 | 63.2 | 67.2 | -0.5 | -4.5 | | Nonelectrical Machinery | 100.9 | 101.8 | 108.1 | -0.9 | -7.2 | | Electrical Machinery | 40.3 | 41.2 | 46.4 | -0.9 | -6.1 | | Transportation Equipment | 32.1 | 32.8 | 34.3 | -0.7 | -2.2 | Prof., Scient. & Control Instruments | 17.3 | 17.3 | 17.9 | 0.0 | -0.6 | | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 11.9 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | | | | | | | | | NONDURABLE GOODS | 236.3 | 238.9 | 241.3 | -2.6 | -5.0 | | Food and Kindred Products | 70.1 | 72.5 | 69.3 | -2.4 | 0.8 | | Textile Mill Products | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | -0.1 | -0.1 | Apparel & Other Finished Products | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.8 | -0.1 | -0.1 | | Paper and Allied Products | 50.4 | 50.6 | 51.3 | -0.2 | -0.9 | | Printing, Publishing & Allied | 53.4 | 53.3 | 54.8 | 0.1 | -1.4 | | Chemicals and Allied Products | 15.3 | 15.1 | 15 | 0.2 | 0.3 | Rubber & Misc. Plastic Products | 35.9 | 36 | 39 | -0.1 | -3.1 | | Leather & Leather Products | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 0.0 | -0.5 | | All Other Nondurable Goods | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | -0.1 | 0.0 | | | | | | | | | MINING | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3 | 0.0 | -0.2 | | CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION | 133.7 | 134.9 | 135.5 | -1.2 | -1.8 | TRANS, COMM, ELEC, GAS & SAN. SERV. | 137.2 | 136.7 | 137.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | | TRADE | 641.7 | 639.7 | 642.8 | 2.0 | -1.1 | | WHOLESALE TRADE | 137.3 | 137.5 | 140.2 | -0.2 | -2.9 | | RETAIL TRADE | 504.4 | 502.2 | 502.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | FINANCE, INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE | 152.8 | 152.5 | 149.3 | 0.3 | 3.5 | | SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS | 788.5 | 791.3 | 774.8 | -2.8 | 13.7 | | GOVERNMENT | 420.4 | 406.3 | 408.2 | 14.1 | 12.2 | | FEDERAL | 30 | 29.9 | 29.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | | STATE | 105.4 | 100.9 | 98 | 4.5 | 7.4 | | LOCAL | 285 | 275.5 | 280.5 | 9.5 | 4.5 | | | | | | | | 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 | 3055.1 | 3049.2 | 2974.2 | 5.9 | 80.9 | | UNEMPLOYMENT | 137.2 | 123.0 | 98.4 | 14.2 | 38.8 | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | | EMPLOYMENT | 2917.9 | 2926.2 | 2875.8 | -8.3 | 42.1 | | NONFARM WAGE & SALARY | 2862.9 | 2855.3 | 2866.6 | 7.6 | -3.7 | | News Release Index Page |