Wisconsin's unemployment rate falls to 6.7% in April

MADISON -- The Department of Workforce Development released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary data for April, showing Wisconsin’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent seasonally adjusted from March.

“Wisconsin’s unemployment rate continued its decline, dropping to a preliminary rate of 6.7 percent in April from 6.8 percent in March and 6.9 percent the previous two months,” Secretary Reggie Newson said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon, May 17th. “A year ago, the rate was 7.5 percent. Meanwhile, we had more people employed and fewer unemployed in April 2012 compared to the previous year.”

However, the new monthly data, though preliminary, shows the state is  still sliding backward. According to a survey of 3.5 percent of Wisconsin employers, the state lost 6,200 private sector jobs in April. The state added 300 government jobs, bringing the net loss to 5,900 jobs. Since December 2010, the month before Walker took office, the state has added a total of 400 jobs.

The national unemployment rate for April was 8.1 percent, down slightly from 8.2 percent in March.

DWD officials cautioned the data is subject to revisions.

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