Unemployment continues to increase across the Badger State. Unemployment rates increased in each of the Wisconsin's 12 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in June compared to May. State Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman released June 2009 local unemployment rate estimates for Wisconsin cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
When compared to rates of June 2008, all 12 MSAs also had higher unemployment rates last month. The Madison MSA had the lowest rate in June at 6.6 percent. The Janesville MSA recorded the highest rate at 13.2 percent. Preliminary figures for nonfarm wage and salary jobs showed an increase in nine of the 11 reporting areas. All 11 reporting areas had fewer jobs compared to employment totals for June 2008.
In June, unemployment rates decreased in 11 of 72 Wisconsin counties, increased in 57, and remained the same in four. Dane County recorded the lowest rate at 6.3 percent, followed by Pepin at 6.6 percent. The highest rates were recorded in Menominee County at 15.6 percent, Rock County at 13.2 percent, and Rusk County at 13.0 percent.
On an annual basis, unemployment rates increased in all 72 counties. The smallest increase occurred in Pepin, which recorded a 2.5 percentage point increase. The biggest increase occurred in Price County, where the unemployment rate increased 8.1 percentage points to 12.7 percent.