Wisconsin ranked 33rd in the country for private-sector job creation during the 12 months ending in March of this year as the state’s service-providing firms added more than 31,000 employees while goods-producing companies added 6,000.
The 37,000 jobs added were a 1.58 percent increase from March of 2015, according to Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Utah led the way with a 4.2 percent increase in employment, followed by Idaho at 3.85 percent and Florida at 3.83 percent. North Dakota was last, down 7.88 percent, followed by Wyoming, down 5.27 percent and West Virginia, down 1.78 percent.
Wisconsin topped its neighbors Iowa, up 0.88 percent, Illinois, up 1.39 percent and Minnesota, up 1.57 percent. Other Midwestern states, including Ohio, up 1.92 percent, Indiana, up 2.12 percent and Michigan, up 2.34 percent, were ahead of the Badger State.
Wisconsin’s average weekly wages were down 0.57 percent to $874, ranking 25th in the country.
The state added 5,577 business establishments for a total of 162,458. The 3.55 percent increase was the 17th highest in the country.
The Madison metro area led Wisconsin’s job gains with 10,885 employees added, a 3.87 percent increase that ranked 55th in the country. The Milwaukee metro area added 13,229 jobs, a 1.85 percent increase that was 199th in the country.
The construction industry saw the largest percentage gain in Wisconsin, increasing employment 6.11 percent and adding 5,798 jobs. Average weekly wages were up $47 in construction to $1,064.
Trade, transportation and utilities added 13,643 jobs and professional and business services employment was up 11,664 to also boost the state’s job growth.
Manufacturing was the only industry to see a decline in employment during the 12-month period. The industry lost 509 jobs, a 0.11 percent drop. Wages were down $16 per week to $1,052.
Kenosha County led southeastern Wisconsin’s job growth, adding 6,005 jobs for a 12.8 percent increase. Average weekly wages in the county were down $77 to $748.
Ozaukee County added 2,246 jobs, a 6.17 percent jump. Walworth County added 1,144 for a 3.59 percent increase. Waukesha County was up 1.95 percent, adding 4,147 jobs. Milwaukee County added 6,090 jobs, a 1.45 percent increase.
Sheboygan County was the only county in southeastern Wisconsin to see average wages increase, up $35 to $929. The county added 300 jobs during the period. In manufacturing, the county saw wages increase $84 per week to $1,208. The county, however, did shed 77 manufacturing jobs.
Racine County saw manufacturing employment drop by 449 and wages fell $59 per week to $1,199.
Waukesha County lost 1,097 manufacturing jobs, but wages were up $44 to $1,291.
Read more economic data reports at the BizTracker page.
