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Northwoods Jobless Rate Near Double Lowest State Rate

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The jobless rate in the Northwoods remains nearly double of some other areas of Wisconsin.

Unemployment numbers released last month by the state showed June joblessness in the region at 11.2 percent in Iron county, 9.6 precent in Forest county, 9.2 percent in both Langlade and Lincoln counties, 8.4 percent in Vilas county, 8 percent in Oneida county. Price county had the areas lowest rate at 6.4 percent.

State economist Tom Walsh in Wausau says statewide, unemployment usually rises in May and June due to the number of students entering the workforce....

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"....the Northwoods is a little different in that there's a heavy tourism component you actually see unemployment rates go down month-to-month. On a month-to-month basis we usually have an interesting mix across the Northwoods...."

Price county lost nearly one full percentage point from it's jobless rate since 2012, while the other Northwoods counties were close to 2012 unemployment levels. Iron county rose a half point from a year ago.

Walsh says initial claims for unemployment insurance are trending downward...

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"....initial claims on the state and regional level in the Northwoods continue to track down from 2012 levels. In 2012 it's actually been down from previous years. So that's a good thing we're seeing (initial claims) go down....."

St. Croix county in the far western part of the state has the lowest rate at 4.6 percent. Dane county is at 5.1 percent.

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