Wisconsin’s unemployment rate edged up to 3.3% in January, though the state’s labor force participation remained significantly higher than the national average, according to preliminary data released by the Department of Workforce Development.
The 3.3% seasonally adjusted jobless rate is one full percentage point lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.3%.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate rose to 64.3%. That figure stands 1.8 percentage points above the federal rate of 62.5%.
Total nonfarm jobs reached 3,032,500 in January, marking an addition of 8,000 positions since December.
The number of employed Wisconsin residents totaled 3,017,400. While this represents a modest monthly gain of 800 people, the state’s total employment is down 18,600 compared to the same period last year.
