Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced April 15 that that state added manufacturing jobs in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, further evidence of a slow, but steady economic recovery.
Current employment statistics show a gain of 2,500 manufacturing jobs in March on a seasonally adjusted basis. Job growth in the manufacturing sector – a source of good, family-supporting jobs – was seen in Wisconsin during March. Without seasonal adjustment Wisconsin posted a gain of 4,900 jobs in March, including a gain of 800 manufacturing jobs.
“Job growth in manufacturing reflects improving stability in one of our largest employment sectors and bodes well for the future,” Secretary Gassman said. “With steps taken at both the state and national level to encourage economic growth and create jobs, we remain optimistic that our state’s economy will continue to show improvement. With the warmer temperatures, seasonal hiring also is expected to resume in construction, tourism and other sectors that add jobs.”
Goods producing sectors, which includes manufacturing, showed gains in both the seasonally adjusted and unadjusted employment data. Service sectors showed a mix of losses and gains. Seasonally adjusted, Wisconsin saw a total net loss of 2,200 jobs.
Wisconsin’s unemployment rates held relatively steady at 8.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis and at 9.8 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Both rates were up slightly, 0.1 percent, from February rates. In both cases, Wisconsin remains under the national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 10.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted).
In March 2009, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 8.2 percent (seasonally adjusted) and 9.4 percent (not seasonally adjusted), and the U.S. rates in March 2009 were 8.6 percent and 9.0 percent, respectively.
Unemployment rate increases (not seasonally adjusted) in the months of January, February and March are common in Wisconsin and other northern states, given seasonal factors.
