BLS Data: Wisconsin Sets Record for Total Number of People Employed

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of May 2022, which show the number of Wisconsinites employed at a historic high of 3,059,300. The data also show an increase in Wisconsin’s total labor force for the sixth consecutive month.

• Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 66.5 percent in May, unchanged from April, and 4.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.3 percent. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate in May was 2.9 percent, up slightly from April’s historic low due to an increase in active participants in the labor force.
• Place of Work Data: Wisconsin total nonfarm jobs increased from April 2022 to May 2022 by 2,200 while private-sector jobs increased by 1,800 over the same period.

“Wisconsin’s unemployment and labor force participation rates continue to outpace the nation, and Wisconsin is experiencing a record number of people employed,” DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said. “DWD is proud to support Wisconsin workers in finding a well-paying career in this competitive labor market, and stands ready to connect individuals and employers so that our economy can continue to thrive.”

The strong economic recovery and robust job growth also has pushed weekly unemployment insurance claims to historic seasonal lows. For the week ending June 4, 2022, the number of weekly initial unemployment insurance claims totaled 3,288, down from 7,466 in the same week of 2021. Continued unemployment insurance claims for the same week set a new low of 15,224, versus 55,697 a year ago.

Today’s full report can be viewed on DWD’s premier source for labor market information, WisConomy.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.