Data and analysis from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Employment Nearly Flat in November
Prior two months saw declines
Wisconsin total nonfarm employment increased by 200 in November after falling by a little more than 10,000 each of the two prior months. Over the past three months, total employment has fallen by 21,200 and private employment by 10,600. Over the year, Wisconsin employment has fallen by 2,400, a decline of 0.1%. For comparison, national employment has increased 0.6%.
The private education and health sector added 10,100 jobs over the past 12 months, an increase of 2.1%. Of those new jobs, 9,500 were in health & social assistance. Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 5,900 jobs, also a 2.1% increase, over the year.
Government employment has declined by 12,300 jobs over the past year. Of these job losses, 2,400 were in federal government. The trade, transportation, and utilities sector lost 8,400 jobs.
The state unemployment rate was at 3.1% in November, same as in September (no rate is available for October due to the government shutdown), versus a 4.6% rate at the national level. WI’s labor force participation rate dipped to 64.1%, down from 64.5% in September and down nearly two percentage points from a year before, when it was at 66.0%.
Wisconsin Employment by Sector
Exports Declined Through First Nine Months of 2025
Wisconsin’s exports are down 2.9% through the first three quarters of the year, to $20.6 billion.
Of Wisconsin’s top five export destinations, four saw a decline in WI exports. The Netherlands is the only exception, with a 53.7% increase in exports.
Exports to Canada declined 11.8%, while exports to Mexico fell 6.2%. Exports to China declined 35.7%, with the biggest decline in computers and electronic components.
Wisconsin’s largest category of exports, machinery, declined 12.1%. Meanwhile exports of computers and electronics increased 18.9% (including large increases to the Netherlands and Singapore) and exports of chemicals increased 6.1%. Transportation equipment exports declined 19.0%. Processed food exports were flat, and agricultural exports were down 25.7%.
