Outdated or Unsupported Browser Detected
DWD's website uses the latest technology. This makes our site faster and easier to use across all devices. Unfortunatley, your browser is out of date and is not supported. An update is not required, but it is strongly recommended to improve your browsing experience. To update Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge visit their website.

Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary-designee

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 20, 2022
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Job Gains Continue with Growth in Leisure and Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Construction

State has Added Jobs in Eight of Nine Months for 2022

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of September 2022.

For September, total nonfarm jobs increased 7,000 over the month and 63,000 over the year. Wisconsin's unemployment rate of 3.2% now stands at 0.3 percentage points below the national rate of 3.5%.

Place of Work Data: Within the category of total nonfarm wage and salary jobs, Wisconsin added 14,400 private sector jobs during the month of September and 62,400 over the year, with monthly and annual gains in construction, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality. State government jobs are down 700 over the year.
Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin's unemployment rate and labor force participation rate continue to better the U.S. equivalents. Wisconsin's September unemployment rate was 3.2% versus the U.S. rate of 3.5%. The state's labor force participation rate was 65.6% in September, compared with the national rate of 62.3%.

"Wisconsin's economic engine continues to drive our state forward with the addition of some 63,000 jobs over the past year," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "Our state continues to set records with a new high of 133,600 construction jobs as well as strong growth in manufacturing, which now boasts 473,400 jobs. The Leisure and Hospitality industry is also making a strong comeback, picking up 18,300 jobs over the year. To continue this positive growth, DWD is hard at work connecting job seekers with in-demand skills and helping employers tap underutilized labor pools including previously unemployed people, veterans, people with disabilities, and the next generation of workers."

Learn more about efforts to remove employment barriers and connect workers with well-paying career opportunities through the historic Workforce Solutions Initiative as well as programs including Wisconsin Apprenticeship, Wisconsin Fast Forward, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Today's full report can be viewed on DWD's premier source for labor market information, WisConomy.com.

View Wisconsin Labor Force Summary

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.