Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Wisconsin

Written by:
November 15, 2022
Canva

Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Wisconsin

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Wisconsin using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

You may also like: What Medicaid acceptance looks like at Wisconsin substance use treatment centers

#50. Jefferson County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 46,103 (1,332 unemployed)

#49. Ozaukee County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: +0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 48,904 (1,428 unemployed)

#48. Richland County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: +0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 8,726 (255 unemployed)

#47. St. Croix County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 51,080 (1,477 unemployed)

#46. Sauk County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 33,809 (994 unemployed)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Wisconsin

#45. Trempealeau County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 14,483 (421 unemployed)

#44. Vernon County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 14,825 (432 unemployed)

#43. Winnebago County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.9%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 91,890 (2,647 unemployed)

#42. Grant County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: +0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.6%
- Total labor force: 26,426 (792 unemployed)

#41. Lincoln County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 14,541 (432 unemployed)
You may also like: Wisconsin small businesses thrive in these counties

#40. Manitowoc County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: +0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 40,306 (1,194 unemployed)

#39. Oneida County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 17,967 (541 unemployed)

#38. Pierce County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 24,969 (743 unemployed)

#37. Portage County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 37,529 (1,141 unemployed)

#36. Barron County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 23,780 (738 unemployed)
You may also like: Demand for these health care jobs is increasing most in Wisconsin

#35. Chippewa County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 32,805 (1,011 unemployed)

#34. Dunn County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 24,038 (734 unemployed)

#33. Shawano County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 20,011 (615 unemployed)

#32. Walworth County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 57,741 (1,770 unemployed)

#31. Waupaca County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.5%
- Total labor force: 25,143 (790 unemployed)
You may also like: These 10 car insurers have the highest market share in Wisconsin

#30. Oconto County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 20,298 (651 unemployed)

#29. Polk County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 24,325 (781 unemployed)

#28. Green Lake County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 9,277 (308 unemployed)

#27. Juneau County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 13,066 (428 unemployed)

#26. Marquette County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 7,652 (253 unemployed)
You may also like: Best colleges in Wisconsin

#25. Washburn County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 7,650 (255 unemployed)

#24. Sawyer County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 8,029 (275 unemployed)

#23. Wood County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 33,615 (1,155 unemployed)

#22. Crawford County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: +0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 6,996 (245 unemployed)

#21. Kenosha County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 92,469 (3,211 unemployed)
You may also like: How syringe exchanges in Wisconsin reduce the spread of disease

#20. Rusk County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: 0.0%
- Total labor force: 6,263 (221 unemployed)

#19. Vilas County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 10,429 (368 unemployed)

#18. Waushara County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.5%
--- 1 month change: +0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 10,901 (377 unemployed)

#17. Ashland County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.6%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 7,594 (270 unemployed)

#16. Buffalo County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 5,892 (213 unemployed)
You may also like: Counties with the highest rates of high blood pressure in Wisconsin

#15. Florence County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: -0.3%
- Total labor force: 2,129 (77 unemployed)

#14. Langlade County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 9,118 (330 unemployed)

#13. Price County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 6,079 (217 unemployed)

#12. Douglas County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 23,201 (868 unemployed)

#11. Jackson County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 9,167 (340 unemployed)
You may also like: Counties with the worst droughts in Wisconsin

#10. Rock County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 85,331 (3,143 unemployed)

#9. Marinette County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 18,931 (719 unemployed)

#8. Racine County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -0.1%
- Total labor force: 96,577 (3,656 unemployed)

#7. Burnett County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.1%
--- 1 year change: +0.4%
- Total labor force: 7,144 (285 unemployed)

#6. Bayfield County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: +0.3%
- Total labor force: 7,392 (302 unemployed)
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in Wisconsin

#5. Milwaukee County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -0.4%
- Total labor force: 463,458 (19,712 unemployed)

#4. Adams County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: +0.2%
- Total labor force: 7,737 (362 unemployed)

#3. Forest County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.0%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: +0.1%
- Total labor force: 3,767 (187 unemployed)

#2. Iron County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.1%
--- 1 month change: -0.2%
--- 1 year change: +0.8%
- Total labor force: 2,457 (125 unemployed)

#1. Menominee County

- Current unemployment rate: 5.9%
--- 1 month change: -2.9%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 1,478 (87 unemployed)
You may also like: Best beach towns on the Great Lakes

Trending Now