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Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary-designee

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

BLS Data: Wisconsin's Unemployment Rate Declines in December to Record Low 2.8%; Total Number of Unemployed Also Reaches Record Low

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of December 2021. The data shows that Wisconsin's unemployment rate declined to a record low of 2.8% in December, down from 3.0% in November. The data also showed that the total number of people in Wisconsin who are counted as unemployed declined to a record low of 86,200.

Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin's labor force participation rate in December was 66.4%, 4.5 percentage points higher than the national rate of 61.9%. Wisconsin's unemployment rate in December was 2.8%, a record low for the data series.
Place of Work Data: Wisconsin total nonfarm jobs increased from November 2021 to December 2021 by 6,300, while private-sector jobs increased by 5,300 over the same time period. The monthly increase in jobs was driven by the state's manufacturing sector which added 4,800 jobs.

"In December, Wisconsin reached a record low for both the number of unemployed workers and our unemployment rate, which is great news for our state," Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said. "For those who are still looking for work, the Workforce Innovation Grant Program, the Worker Advancement Initiative, and the Worker Connection Program, as well as traditional DWD job seeker services provide great opportunities to find a job and a well-paying career in 2022."

With the greater competition for talent, DWD encourages employers to connect with the agency's local business services representatives. The business services representatives can help employers find qualified job applicants with diverse abilities, build strategies to maintain a competitive advantage by retaining existing workers, and connect to workforce planning resources and labor market information.

View Wisconsin Labor Force Summary

Today's full report can be viewed on DWD's premier source for labor market information, WisConomy.com.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.