Counties and cities throughout southeastern Wisconsin posted lower unemployment rates in May than a year ago, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by the state Department of Workforce Development.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.2 percent, down from 4.6 percent a year ago.
The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 4.7 percent, down from 5.5 percent a year ago.
The local unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. But all of the counties in southeastern Wisconsin had lower unemployment rates in May than a year ago.
May unemployment rates by county:
- Washington, 3.2 percent (3.8 percent a year ago).
- Waukesha, 3.4 percent (3.9 percent a year ago).
- Ozaukee, 3.4 percent (3.9 percent a year ago).
- Sheboygan, 3.4 percent (4.0 percent a year ago).
- Walworth, 3.8 percent (4.6 percent a year ago).
- Kenosha, 4.5 percent (5.1 percent a year ago).
- Racine, 4.7 percent (5.6 percent a year ago).
- Milwaukee, 4.8 percent (5.9 percent a year ago).
May unemployment rates for some area cities:
- Waukesha, 3.5 percent (4.2 percent a year ago)
- Sheboygan, 3.7 percent (4.4 percent a year ago)
- Kenosha, 4.9 percent (5.6 percent a year ago)
- Milwaukee, 5.4 percent (6.7 percent a year ago)
- Racine, 5.9 percent (7.1 percent a year ago)
Racine had the highest unemployment rate in May for Wisconsin cities. Milwaukee was the third highest. The lowest was Madison, at 2.9 percent.
Menominee County had the highest unemployment rate in May for Wisconsin counties, at 7.7 percent, which was down from 10.3 percent a year ago. Dane County had the lowest, at 2.9 percent.
Read more economic data reports on the BizTracker page.