WISCREPORT.COM (11/17/07) - Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman says Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for October 2007 was 4.5 percent. Statistics show that is nearly unchanged from one month earlier. The October rate was one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the September rate of 4.6 percent. The national rate for October fell to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in September. Gassman says the start of school and changing weather influenced labor market statistics.

"The start of school and changing weather across the state were among the factors influencing Wisconsin's labor market statistics in October, leading to a one-tenth of a point drop in unemployment over-the-month,” Secretary Gassman said.

Changes that occurred in September, after the recording period, were picked up in October's statistics. This is evident particularly in the increase of local government jobs, as many workers were absorbed back into the labor force too late to be recorded in the September data.

Total Wisconsin non-farm jobs increased 13,400 to 2,912,200 from September to October 2007. Private sector jobs fell over-the-month by 1,400, led by a drop in Leisure & Hospitality jobs, which were down 6,200.

Most of the month's increase came from a rise in Government jobs, which were up 14,800, mostly resulting from an increase of 15,400 in local government jobs. The increase is largely the continued affect of
teachers and staff returning to school and the impact on local government.

Over the year, October 2007 had an increase of 20,900 jobs over October 2006, which recorded 2,891,300 jobs.

Private sector jobs increased 25,900 over that time period, while government jobs decreased 5,000.

Service producing jobs increased by 26,400 over-the-year, led by Professional and Business Services, which went up 7,800 jobs and Trade, which increased 6,300 jobs.

Goods producers lost 5,500 jobs, led by a
decrease in Manufacturing of 5,400 for the year.

The seasonally adjusted Wisconsin unemployment rate for October 2007 was 5.2 percent, unchanged from 5.2 percent in September, and up five-tenths of a percentage point from October 2006.

Total state employment was down 4,400 from September to October and down 3,000 for October compared to one year ago, according to the seasonally adjusted Wisconsin Unemployment rate.