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On November 23rd, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced the preliminary October 2022 unemployment rates for Wisconsin’s 72 counties and the 35 cities with populations greater than 25,000 residents. St. Croix County’s October rate was estimated at 2.6%, which is lower than the final rate of 2.9% for both September and August. One year ago, the county’s unemployment rate was estimated at 2.3%.

DWD said preliminary unemployment rates from September to October declined or stayed the same in 71 of the 72 counties. Rates declined or stayed the same in 10 of the 72 counties year-over-year. The current rates range from 2.2% in Calumet 5.9% in Menominee.

Preliminary unemployment rates from September to October decreased or stayed the same in all of Wisconsin’s 35 largest cities. Year-over-year, the rates declined or stayed the same in 14 cities. Rates ranged from 2.0% in Sun Prairie to 4.5% in Milwaukee and Racine.

The five counties with the lowest unemployment rates in October include Calumet (2.2%), Clark (also at 2.2%), Dane (also at 2.2%), Iowa (also at 2.2%), and Eau Claire (2.3%). Menominee had the highest rate in October at 5.9%, followed by Iron (4.9%), Forest (4.7%), Adams (4.4%), and Milwaukee (4.0%).

St. Croix, Pierce, and Polk counties comprise Wisconsin’s Greater St. Croix Valley. In addition to St. Croix’s rate of 2.6%, October’s preliminary rate in Pierce was 2.7% and Polk’s rate was 2.9%.

St. Croix and Pierce counties are included in the 15-county Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI metro area. The October 2022 unemployment rate for the Twin Cities was estimated at 1.7%, which is lower than September’s final rate of 1.9% and August’s final rate of 2.2%. The unemployment rate for the Twin Cities was 2.4% in October 2021.

Nearby Washington County in Minnesota reported a preliminary rate of 1.6% for October, while Dakota County, MN reported a rate of 1.6% and Chisago County MN had a rate of 1.7%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for Wisconsin in October was estimated at 3.3%, which is higher than the final rate of 3.2% for September and 3.1% for August’s final rate. One year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.2%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in Minnesota for October was estimated at 2.1%, which is higher than September’s final rate of 2.0% and August’s final rate of 1.9%. Minnesota’s seasonally-adjusted rate one year ago was 3.1%.

The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate in the U.S. for October was estimated at 3.7%, which is higher than September’s final rate of 3.5%, but the same as August’s final rate. One year ago, the U.S. rate (seasonally adjusted) was estimated at 4.6%.

Wisconsin’s preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for October was estimated at 65.3%, which is lower than September’s final rate of 65.6% and August’s final rate of 65.9%. One year ago, Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 66.4%. The preliminary (seasonally adjusted) labor force participation rate for the U.S. in October was estimated at 62.2%, which is lower than September’s final rate of 62.3% and August’s final rate of 62.4%. One year ago, the labor force participation rate in the U.S. was 61.7%.

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