Department of Workforce Development: Unemployment the same or down in 71 counties

MADISON — Unemployment rates have dropped or stayed the same between August and September in 71 of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Wednesday, October 21st.

The September unemployment rates ranged from 2.7 percent in Dane County to 7.6 percent in Menominee County. Only Monroe County reported an increase from 3.7 percent to 4 percent.

Jobless rates declined from August to September in all 12 metropolitan areas tracked. The latest rates ranged from 2.7 percent in metro Madison to 4.6 percent in metro Racine.

The September local rates follow last week's release of the bureau's monthly estimates showing that Wisconsin's preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate at 4.3 percent, lower than the national average of 5.1 percent.