The number of people employed in Wisconsin continues to grow and the unemployment level in the Northwoods has dropped significantly, even given seasonal hiring. That's the summary from the latest Department of Workforce Development report released last week.
Labor Market Economist Scott Hodek says the statewide unadjusted rate was 3.8 percent, that level hasn't been seen since the 1990's...
".....not only did you have the standard seasonal movement downward from April to May. In some cases you had from .8 percent to 1.5 percent point down from last May...."
Hodek is referring to unemployment numbers that have dropped a almost a full two percentage points from May, 2015, which shows a drop even beyond normal seasonal hiring.
Hodek says finding new workers to fill the growth will be vital...
".....the economy is still growing at a moderate pace. Over the next couple of decades it's really a labor force issue we are seeing. Anything we can do to mobilize and underutilized populations or attract and retain talent is going to be vital...."
Northwoods counties remain among the counties with the highest unemployment. Iron county is at 7.4 percent, Forest is at 5.3 percent, Vilas at 4.9, Langlade at 4.7, Oneida at 4.2 percent and Lincoln and Price at 4 percent. Dane county has the state's lowest rate at 2.9 percent. 42 of the state's 72 counties have an unemployment rate of four percent or below. Analysts say a four percent rate is nearing full employment when statistical factors are weighed.
