On March 13th, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced the preliminary January 2019 unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties and the 32 cities with populations greater than 25,000 residents. St. Croix County’s rate was estimated at 4.0%. For comparison, St. Croix’s final rate for December was 2.8% and November’s final rate was 2.6%. One year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was estimated at 3.6%.

DWD said preliminary unemployment rates for January declined or remained the same in 18 of the 72 counties when compared to January 2018. The rates ranged from 2.4% in Dane County to 6.8% in Adams.

The January 2019 preliminary unemployment rates declined or stayed the same in 19 of Wisconsin’s 32 largest municipalities. Rates ranged from 2.3% in Madison to 4.3% in Beloit.

The five counties with the lowest unemployment rate in January include Dane (2.4%), Ozaukee (2.7%), Sheboygan (also at 2.7%), Calumet (2.8%), and Winnebago (also at 2.8%). Adams County had the highest rate in January at 6.8%, followed by Burnett (6.7 %), Bayfield (6.6%), Forest (6.3%), and Iron (5.8%).

St. Croix, Pierce, Polk, and Dunn counties comprise Wisconsin’s Greater St. Croix Valley. In addition to St. Croix’s rate of 4.0%, January’s preliminary rate in Dunn was estimated at 4.1%, followed by Pierce also at 4.1% and Polk at 5.7%.

St. Croix and Pierce counties are included in the 16-county Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI metro area. The January 2019 unemployment rate for the Twin Cities was estimated at 3.6%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 2.8% and November’s final rate of 2.0%. The unemployment rate in the Twin Cities was 3.4% in January 2018.

For the twelfth consecutive month, the preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for Wisconsin was at or below 3.0%. For January, the rate was estimated at 3.0%, which is the same as the final rates for both December and November. One year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 2.9%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in Minnesota in January was estimated at 3.0%, which is higher than the final rate of 2.9% for both December and November. Minnesota’s seasonally-adjusted rate one year ago was 3.1%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in the U.S. for January was estimated at 4.0%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 3.0% but lower than November’s final rate of 4.1%. One year ago, the U.S. rate (seasonally adjusted) was estimated at 4.1%.

Wisconsin’s preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for January was estimated at 67.6%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 67.5% but lower than November’s final rate of 68.4%. One year ago, Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 68.5%. The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for the U.S. in January was estimated at 63.2%, which is higher than the final rate of 63.1% in December and 62.9% for November. One year ago, the labor force participation rate in the U.S. was 62.7%.

January’s estimates are preliminary and are subject to revision within the next few weeks.

St. Croix EDC’s workforce committee recently created a workforce guide for St. Croix Valley employers and jobseekers. It is available in a printed format or an electronic version here.

In late 2018 the EDC created a workforce committee in recognition of the challenges faced by area employers in recruiting and retaining workers across the continuum, from entry level to executives. Through retirement and attrition, more people are leaving the workforce than are entering it. In addition, there did not appear to be a one-stop resource document for jobseekers looking for either their first full-time job or advancement.

The EDC guide highlights numerous public-private resources as solutions to filling job vacancies or securing employment. A short descriptor of each resource and web links is included in the guide.

The guide has been distributed to local chambers of commerce, who are integral partners of the EDC.

An electronic version is available to download here. To request a printed copy, contact the EDC office at (175) 381-4383 or nita@stcroixedc.com.

On March 13th, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced the preliminary January 2019 unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties and the 32 cities with populations greater than 25,000 residents. St. Croix County’s rate was estimated at 4.0%. For comparison, St. Croix’s final rate for December was 2.8% and November’s final rate was 2.6%. One year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was estimated at 3.6%.

DWD said preliminary unemployment rates for January declined or remained the same in 18 of the 72 counties when compared to January 2018. The rates ranged from 2.4% in Dane County to 6.8% in Adams.

The January 2019 preliminary unemployment rates declined or stayed the same in 19 of Wisconsin’s 32 largest municipalities. Rates ranged from 2.3% in Madison to 4.3% in Beloit.

The five counties with the lowest unemployment rate in January include Dane (2.4%), Ozaukee (2.7%), Sheboygan (also at 2.7%), Calumet (2.8%), and Winnebago (also at 2.8%). Adams County had the highest rate in January at 6.8%, followed by Burnett (6.7 %), Bayfield (6.6%), Forest (6.3%), and Iron (5.8%).

St. Croix, Pierce, Polk, and Dunn counties comprise Wisconsin’s Greater St. Croix Valley. In addition to St. Croix’s rate of 4.0%, January’s preliminary rate in Dunn was estimated at 4.1%, followed by Pierce also at 4.1% and Polk at 5.7%.

St. Croix and Pierce counties are included in the 16-county Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI metro area. The January 2019 unemployment rate for the Twin Cities was estimated at 3.6%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 2.8% and November’s final rate of 2.0%. The unemployment rate in the Twin Cities was 3.4% in January 2018.

For the twelfth consecutive month, the preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for Wisconsin was at or below 3.0%. For January, the rate was estimated at 3.0%, which is the same as the final rates for both December and November. One year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 2.9%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in Minnesota in January was estimated at 3.0%, which is higher than the final rate of 2.9% for both December and November. Minnesota’s seasonally-adjusted rate one year ago was 3.1%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in the U.S. for January was estimated at 4.0%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 3.0% but lower than November’s final rate of 4.1%. One year ago, the U.S. rate (seasonally adjusted) was estimated at 4.1%.

Wisconsin’s preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for January was estimated at 67.6%, which is higher than December’s final rate of 67.5% but lower than November’s final rate of 68.4%. One year ago, Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 68.5%. The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for the U.S. in January was estimated at 63.2%, which is higher than the final rate of 63.1% in December and 62.9% for November. One year ago, the labor force participation rate in the U.S. was 62.7%.

January’s estimates are preliminary and are subject to revision within the next few weeks.

St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announces a new effort to address workforce issues and challenges faced by employers in the St. Croix Valley. Workforce attraction and retention are top issues for employers. Through retirement and attrition, more people are leaving the workforce than are entering it. In response, St. Croix EDC, in conjunction with UW-Extension and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-New Richmond, is conducting a confidential on-line survey of St. Croix Valley employers to build a better understanding of workforce challenges and identify effective ways to address them.

The survey is aimed at all area employers, large or small, and across all business sectors – manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, service, and retail, etc. The survey will take approximately three (3) minutes to complete and can be accessed here. The survey will remain open to participants until March 27, 2019.

St. Croix EDC will partner with local chambers of commerce to encourage broader participation from their respective members.

St. Croix EDC envisions common themes to emerge from the survey, giving area employers better insights into workforce issues and challenges, and more options for workforce solutions.

Click here to access the survey – http://app.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?B99DF1E9B0FCEDE8BC

About St. Croix EDC
St. Croix EDC was formed in 1993 to promote business growth in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Reflective activities include marketing and communications, business retention, expansion, recruitment, new start-ups, advocacy, and workforce development.

For questions or comments, contact William Rubin, EDC executive director at (715) 381-4383 or bill@stcroixedc.com.