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Scott Walker, Governor
Raymond Allen, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 18, 2018
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

BLS Data: Wisconsin's Record-Low Unemployment Rate of 2.8% Ranks 5th Nationally, Ties for 1st in Midwest

April state-by-state data shows Wisconsin's 12-month job gain in manufacturing ranks 2nd nationally, 1st in Midwest

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen released the following statement on today's release by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDOL/BLS) showing that Wisconsin's record-low unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in April was the 5th lowest rate among all states, and tied with Iowa for the lowest rate among Midwestern states. Additionally, Wisconsin's labor force participation rate of 68.9 percent ranked 5th highest nationally, and the state's year-over-year addition of 13,700 manufacturing jobs ranked 2nd nationally.

"Wisconsin's robust manufacturing industry is growing, we have more people employed today than ever before and the number of unemployed Wisconsinites is approaching record lows as our unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country," Secretary Allen said. "At the DWD, we will continue to work in collaboration with state and local partners on strategies to retain and attract more talent to Wisconsin by showcasing the tremendous opportunities that our state offers for career and personal fulfilment."

Highlights of today's state-by-state rankings by BLS include:

Wisconsin ranked 3rd nationally in the number of manufacturing jobs added in 2018.
Wisconsin's addition of 13,700 manufacturing jobs from April 2017 to April 2018 ranked 2nd nationally.
Wisconsin's 0.2 percent labor force participation rate increase in April ranked tied for 2nd nationally.
Wisconsin's labor force participation rate of 68.9 percent in April ranked 5th nationally.
Wisconsin's record-low unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in April ranks 5th nationally and tied for 1st in the Midwest.

Other indicators of the state of Wisconsin's economy include:

Initial UI claims ended 2017 at their lowest level in the last 30 years.
Continuing unemployment claims ended 2017 at their lowest level since 1973.
Moody's investor Service recently upgraded the state's credit rating, nothing that "(T)he stable outlook reflects the expectation that the state will experience moderate economic growth and will continue its prudent fiscal management practices."

The data included in today's release can be accessed on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.