August 2007 Local Unemployment Rates Announced

METRO AREAS


MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman today announced August 2007 unemployment rates for the state’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSA). 


“Jobs data for the month of August show that Wisconsin added 1,600 jobs over the month and 26,300 jobs over the year, with 10 of the state’s 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas adding jobs over the year, led by the Milwaukee metro area, which added 12,500 jobs,” Secretary Gassman said.  


Unemployment rates increased in eight of the state’s 12 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) on a monthly basis, decreased in one, and saw no change in rate in three.  The sole decrease was eight-tenths of a percentage point, which occurred in the Janesville MSA.  The greatest increase, three-tenths of a percentage point, occurred in the Fond du Lac MSA.  La Crosse, Sheboygan, and Wausau all showed no change over-the-month.  The highest metro area unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in the Racine MSA and the lowest was 3.7 percent recorded in the three-county Madison MSA. 


The preliminary nonfarm wage and salary job counts increased over-the-month in five metro areas, decreased in four metro areas, and remained the same in three.  The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA added 900 jobs for the greatest increase, followed by the Madison MSA, which added 800 jobs in August.  The Janesville MSA saw the greatest loss, decreasing 500 jobs.



The annual job tallies show an increase in 10 of Wisconsin’s 12 MSAs. The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA led the growth, gaining 12,500 jobs, and the Madison MSA gained the second most with 5,100 more jobs compared to one year ago.  The Janesville MSA showed an annual decline of 700 jobs and Oshkosh-Neenah was down 100 jobs.


COUNTIES


Unemployment rates shifted slightly higher in 50 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in August, while 14 counties saw decreases and eight saw no changes over the month. The largest increase was in Menomonee County, which went up 1.8 percentage points. The largest decrease for August was Rock County, which dropped by eight-tenths of a percentage point.


Annually, 61 counties had higher rates compared to August 2006, five counties were unchanged, and six had lower rates.  The greatest increase, 1.5 percentage points, occurred in Burnett County, while the greatest decrease, three-tenths of a percentage point, occurred in Portage and Dodge counties.