Milwaukee Jobs, Unemployment Decrease

Although more Milwaukee jobs were lost during August, the area saw a slight decline in its unemployment rate.

During August, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis area saw its unemployment rate decrease from 9.5 percent to 9.3 percent, which was lower than the national unemployment rate at the time of 9.7 percent. The area's unemployment rate has continually declined since June, when it was at 9.8 percent.

Milwaukee had a total non-farm employment of 805,900 workers during August, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 810,600 workers during July and a 5.9 percent decrease from last year.

Three industries saw an increase in employment on a month-to-month basis, including: construction by 200 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities by 200 jobs; and other services by 400 jobs. The financial activities industry employed 55,200 workers, the same as during July.

Only two industries managed to add jobs when compared to last year. The education and health services industry employed 142,500 workers during August, down from 143,100 workers during July, but a .2 percent increase from last year. The government industry employed 87,800 workers during August, down from 89,700 workers during July, but a 2.1 percent increase from last year.

The mining and logging industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. That industry employed 300 workers during August, the same as during July, but a 25 percent decrease from last year.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in jobs include:
construction by 10 percent
manufacturing by 12 percent
trade, transportation and utilities by 6.2 percent
information by 2.9 percent
financial activities by 6.1 percent
professional and business services by 12.1 percent
leisure and hospitality by 7 percent
other services by .9 percent