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

• Unemployment dips across region, state

March unemployment figures released this week by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development showed a positive sign.

Unemployment rates across the far western region and the state dropped from February to March.

The lowest unemployment rate in the region was in Pierce County which held steady at 5.5 percent.

The rate in St. Croix County dropped from 5.8 percent in February to 5.7 percent.

Polk County also saw a drop, going from 7.9 percent to 7.5 percent in March.

In Pepin County, the March unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down from February's 6.4 percent.

The only county in the region to see a rise in unemployment was Dunn County whose rate jumped up 0.1 percent to 5.7 percent.

Eau Claire County dropped 0.1 percent to 4.8 percent. Meanwhile, Chippewa County's rate was 6.6 percent in March, down from 6.8 percent in February.

The statewide rate dropped 0.2 of a percent, with a rate of 5.6 percent.

"Wisconsin's labor market showed improvement from February with a drop of two-tenths of a percentage point in unemployment rate and an increase of nearly 13,000 in jobs over the month," said Roberta Gassman, DWD secretary.