• News tips, submissions
• Questions, comments
• Contact webmaster

• Good news on the jobs front

There's good news on the unemployment front across the region and the state.

The statewide unemployment rate dropped again in May to 4.2 percent which is much better than the national rate of 5.2 percent, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

"We continue to see the expected seasonal job increases that occur when the weather warms and spring hiring begins. Wisconsin's economy overall is holding up better than many parts of the nation," said Roberta Gassman, DWD secretary.

Across the region unemployment rates in all six counties also dropped not only from April's levels but were also less than a year ago.

St. Croix County had an unemployment rate of 4 percent in May which is a drop from 4.8 percent in April and 5 percent in May 2007.

The unemployment rate in Pierce County fell to 4 percent in May, down from 4.7 percent in April and 4.2 percent last year.

There was a significant drop in the unemployment rate in Polk County which had a rate of 4.7 percent in May, down from 5.9 percent in April. Last year Polk County had a rate of 6 percent.

For Pepin County, May's rate was 3.4 percent, down from April's 4.2 percent and 4 percent last year.

In Dunn County the rate dropped to 3.6 percent, down from May's 4.3 percent and 4.4 percent last year.

Eau Claire County saw just a 0.1 percent drop over the previous month with May's rate at 3.6 percent. That rate was 4.2 percent last year.

In Chippewa County the rate for May was at 4 percent, down from 5.2 percent in April and 5.1 percent in May 2007.

According to DWD, from April to May, total Wisconsin non-farm jobs increased by 35,400, to 2,887,900.

Private sector jobs grew by 33,500, led by strong growth in the leisure and hospitality sector which gained 11,500 more jobs, and the construction sector which added 8,700 more jobs.

Manufacturing jobs increased again last month by 2,100.

"Particularly encouraging is the improvement in construction and manufacturing, both of which showed increases in jobs in May for the third consecutive month," Gassman said.

While jobs increased last month, during the past year there has been a decline in several sectors, according to the DWD report.

May 2008 showed a decline of 16,100 Wisconsin non-farm jobs. Goods' producers were down 15,600, led by a decline in manufacturing of 9,500 jobs. Service providers were down 500 jobs over the year, led by a decrease of 7,800 jobs in trade.

However, government jobs increased by 2,700 jobs during the year, led by growth in local government jobs, which were up 5,700.

However, overall state and federal government decreased their employment by 2,400 and 600 jobs respectively.