MONROE – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced a new employment record for July 2024 on Aug. 15, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the third consecutive monthly record for employment in the state and underscores Wisconsin’s record-breaking economic performance. A few days after the announcement, the DWD released its localized July data.
Preliminary employment estimates for July 2024 showed that Wisconsin’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.0%, which is 1.3 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. The state’s labor force participation rate remained stable at 65.5% in July, while the national rate was 62.7%.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised its employment figures for June. The US recorded a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.1% in June 2024 and 4.3% in July. The figure for July 2024 is 0.8% higher than the same period in 2023.
Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is 3.0% in July 2024, up from 2.9% in June, but down 0.2% from 2023.
Lafayette County again topped the state with an unemployment rate of 2.4% in July 2024 – the same as in June and slightly higher than the 2.3% in 2023. Green County tied with Door and Pepin counties for second in the state with 2.5% in July 2024. This is the same as Green’s rate in June and 0.1% lower than a year ago.
Menominee County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 6.2% in July 2024, down 0.1% from June and well below the 9.6% mark in July 2023.
More information about the data contained in the release is available at Wisconomy.com.
Quick numbers
● Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.0% in July, 1.3 percentage points below the national rate of 4.3%. Wisconsin’s labor force increased by 2,800 during the month and by 1,800 for the year. Employment increased by 1,300 during the month to a record 3,049,700 employed.
● Data on places of work: Nonfarm jobs fell by 6,500 during the month, but rose by 25,700 over the year to 3,035,100 jobs. In the private sector, jobs fell by 8,500 during the month, but rose by 17,900 over the year to 2,625,700 jobs.
● Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary unemployment rates for July 2024 decreased or remained the same in nine of 12 metropolitan areas over the month; in six areas, rates decreased or remained the same over the year.
● Municipalities: Preliminary unemployment rates for July 2024 decreased or remained the same over the month in 24 of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities; in 22 cities, rates decreased or remained the same over the year.
● Counties: The preliminary unemployment rates for July 2024 decreased or remained the same in 45 of 72 counties during the month; during the year, the rates decreased or remained the same in 44 counties.