2. News Room

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 17, 2018
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
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BLS Data: Wisconsin's Addition of 21,300 Manufacturing Jobs from July 2017 to July 2018 ranks 2nd Nationally, 1st in the Midwest

Wisconsin addition of 9,100 private-sector jobs In July ranks 8th nationally

MADISON – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen released the following statement on today's release by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing that Wisconsin's addition of 21,300 manufacturing jobs from July 2017 through July 2018 ranked 2nd nationally, trailing only Texas's gain of 21,400 manufacturing jobs, and 1st in the Midwest. Today's release also showed that Wisconsin's addition of 9,100 private sector jobs in July ranked 8th nationally. Wisconsin's unemployment rate of 2.9 percent tied for 7th lowest nationally, while Wisconsin's labor force participation rate of 68.9 percent tied for 5th highest nationally.

"Today's state-by-state rankings release by BLS reinforces the historically great times Wisconsin's economy has been experiencing. These accomplishments shouldn’t be taken for granted," Secretary Allen said. "Employers are adding jobs at historic rates because they are emboldened by their confidence in the direction of the state's economy, and workers are gaining employment and reaping the rewards of an economy of which Wisconsin has never seen."

Highlights of today's state-by-state rankings release by BLS include numerous measures where Wisconsin ranked in the top 10 among states:

• Wisconsin ranked 6th nationally percent growth in the states manufacturing industry over the last three months
• Wisconsin ranked 9th nationally in percent growth in the state's manufacturing industry over the last six months
• Wisconsin ranked 5th nationally in percent growth in the state's manufacturing industry from July 2017 through July 2018, and 2nd in the Midwest
• Wisconsin ranked 5th nationally in percent growth in the state's manufacturing industry in 2018
• Wisconsin's addition of 2,500 manufacturing jobs in July ranked 3rd nationally, and 2nd in the Midwest
• Wisconsin's manufacturing job gains over the last three months ranked 2nd nationally
• Wisconsin's manufacturing job gains over the last six months ranked 2nd nationally
• Wisconsin's addition of 21,300 manufacturing jobs from July 2017 through July 2018 ranked 2nd nationally, and 1st in the Midwest
• Wisconsin's addition of 15,700 manufacturing jobs in 2018 ranked 2nd nationally
• Wisconsin's addition of 9,100 private-sector jobs in July ranked 8th nationally, and 1st in the Midwest
• Wisconsin's percent growth in private sector jobs in July ranked 7th nationally, and 1st in the Midwest
• Wisconsin's addition of 6,100 construction jobs in 2018 ranked 11th nationally
• Wisconsin's July unemployment rate of 2.9 percent tied for 7th lowest nationally
• Wisconsin's labor force participation rate of 68.9 percent tied for 5th highest nationally

Other indicators of the state of Wisconsin's economy include:

• Initial UI claims ended 2017 at their lowest level in the last 30 years.
• Continuing unemployment claims ended 2017 at their lowest level since 1973.
• Moody's investor Service recently upgraded the state's credit rating, noting that "(T)he stable outlook reflects the expectation that the state will experience moderate economic growth and will continue its prudent fiscal management practices."

The data included in today's release can be accessed on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.