New data released: Job growth in Wisconsin lags behind most of the nation

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin's private sector job growth is 33rd nationwide and behind the national average.

New data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows private-sector job growth in Wisconsin grew nearly 1.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in March. The national average was just over 2 percent.

That ranked Wisconsin 33rd compared with all 50 states. The only Midwest states lower were Illinois and Minnesota.

The numbers show that Wisconsin added 28,712 private-sector jobs over that period.

Separately, the state reported that in August unemployment dropped from 5.8 percent to 5.6 percent.

The numbers come less than seven weeks before the Nov. 4 election. Gov. Scott Walker's record on jobs creation has been a major issue in the race in which he's challenged by Democrat Mary Burke.