WISCONSINREPORT.COM (01/26/2011) - The latest figures show unemployment was down slightly last month and down in Wisconsin last month from the same month last year. 227,700 workers were without jobs at the end of 2010, compared to 258,200 at Christmas time the year before. December, 2010 figures from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development indicate a 7.5 percent unemployment rate, compared to 9.4 percent in the nation. New Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he is willing to work with President Obama, if possible, to make the job picture even better in the state.

Governor Scott Walker made the comments about working with President Barack Obama when the President made a stop in Wisconsin the day after the President's State of the Union address in Washington D.C. While the First Chicago Bears Fan (President Obama) was in the state, Walker took the opportunity to give him a Packer's jersey.

During a visit in Manitowoc President Obama said, like the Packers, he is playing to win, not playing not to lose.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Manny Perez today announced preliminary December unemployment rates for Wisconsin cities, counties and metropolitan areas.

"The latest numbers underscore the importance of advancing Governor Walker’s agenda to improve our state’s business climate, allowing the private sector to create jobs," Secretary Perez said.

"The aggressive steps that Governor Walker is taking will create a better economic environment for communities across Wisconsin", Perez suggested.

Compared to a year ago, eight metro areas posted job gains in December and one had no change on a seasonally adjusted basis.

- The Madison area gained 2,000 jobs and the Green Bay area gained 1,400.

- Metro Milwaukee, including Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties, experienced a decrease of 400 jobs.

- Without seasonal adjustment, eight metro areas posted job gains and one had no change from December 2009.

- Madison gained 1,900 jobs, and Green Bay, 1,300.

- The job decrease for the four-county Milwaukee metro area totaled 400.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) METRO AREAS

- Eight of 12 metro areas had lower rates from the previous month, one had no change, and three had slightly higher rates.

- Madison had the lowest rate at 4.9 percent. Compared to a year ago, all 12 metro areas saw their rates drop by a percentage point or more.

- Janesville had the biggest decrease, 2.2 percentage points to 9.2 percent.

MUNICIPALITIES

Of 31 municipalities with at least 25,000 residents, 28 had rate decreases from November, led by Kenosha with a 1.2 percentage point decrease. Two had no change in rates. The exception was Caledonia with a 0.2 percentage point increase to 3.3 percent, the lowest rate among major cities.

All major cities had lower rates compared to their December 2009 rates with the biggest declines in Beloit, a drop of 3.5 percentage points; Wausau, 2.8 percentage points, and then Fond du Lac and Manitowoc, both with declines of 2.6 percentage points.

COUNTIES

Fifteen counties had lower rates and eight more had no change from November. Of the remaining counties, all had increase of less than a percentage point with one exception, Vilas County, which saw its rate increase by 1.1 percentage points to 11.0 percent.

- Compared to December 2009 rates, Price County had the biggest decrease, 2.4 percentage points to 7.4 percent.

The December numbers are preliminary and subject to revision within the next several weeks.

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