DWD: February jobs and unemployment rates announced

CONTACT: John Dipko, Communications Director, 608-266-6753

On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2010/100324_feb_jobs_ui_rates_announced.pdf

Jobs Added for Second Consecutive Month; Unemployment Rate Holds Steady

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that Wisconsin added jobs for the second consecutive month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Current employment statistics show a gain of 5,200 jobs in February on a seasonally adjusted basis. Without seasonal adjustment, Wisconsin posted a gain of 4,800 jobs in February, reflecting the first January-to-February net job gain of this kind since 2006.

“We are posting job gains that show Wisconsin is moving toward recovery out of the worst national economic downturn since the Great Depression,” Secretary Gassman said. “We remain optimistic that our state’s economy will continue to show improvement, opening up greater employment opportunities for many hardworking families who have been out of work through no fault of their own.”

The largest gains were in construction, manufacturing, and administrative and support services.

In addition, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate held steady at 8.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from January 2010, and rose 0.1 percent to 9.7 percent (not seasonally adjusted) during this time period. In both cases, Wisconsin remains under the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 10.4 percent (not seasonally adjusted).

In February 2009, Wisconsin’s rates were 7.7 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 8.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted), and the U.S. rates in February 2009 were 8.2 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.

Unemployment rate increases (not seasonally adjusted) in mid-winter months are common in Wisconsin and other northern states, given seasonal factors.