Counties with the highest unemployment in Wisconsin

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Wisconsin, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Wisconsin.

#50. Brown County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 145,058 people (3,323 unemployed)

#49. Waukesha County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 229,312 people (5,366 unemployed)

#48. Richland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,099 people (214 unemployed)

#47. Door County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,110 people (363 unemployed)

#46. Shawano County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,529 people (501 unemployed)

#45. Dunn County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,208 people (617 unemployed)

#44. Portage County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,553 people (937 unemployed)

#43. Fond du Lac County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 57,425 people (1,350 unemployed)

#42. Pepin County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,163 people (104 unemployed)

#41. Oconto County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,830 people (518 unemployed)

#40. Waupaca County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,291 people (627 unemployed)

#39. Manitowoc County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,972 people (1,014 unemployed)

#38. Taylor County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 10,299 people (266 unemployed)

#37. Lincoln County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 14,353 people (375 unemployed)

#36. Trempealeau County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,657 people (382 unemployed)

#35. Oneida County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 18,225 people (469 unemployed)

#34. Chippewa County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 35,165 people (905 unemployed)

#33. Green Lake County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,258 people (247 unemployed)

#32. Juneau County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 13,463 people (362 unemployed)

#31. Barron County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,750 people (639 unemployed)

#30. Pierce County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,923 people (679 unemployed)

#29. Rock County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 90,053 people (2,400 unemployed)

#28. Jackson County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,031 people (257 unemployed)

#27. Crawford County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 6,953 people (205 unemployed)

#26. Ashland County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 7,491 people (214 unemployed)

#25. Waushara County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,899 people (319 unemployed)

#24. Grant County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,651 people (770 unemployed)

#23. St. Croix County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 51,162 people (1,493 unemployed)

#22. Forest County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,007 people (119 unemployed)

#21. Washburn County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,563 people (230 unemployed)

#20. Marquette County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,712 people (234 unemployed)

#19. Wood County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 32,920 people (992 unemployed)

#18. Kenosha County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 92,754 people (2,812 unemployed)

#17. Florence County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,069 people (64 unemployed)

#16. Sawyer County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,168 people (257 unemployed)

#15. Langlade County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,290 people (284 unemployed)

#14. Vilas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,266 people (314 unemployed)

#13. Polk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,982 people (785 unemployed)

#12. Racine County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 101,215 people (3,166 unemployed)

#11. Douglas County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,202 people (753 unemployed)

#10. Burnett County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,625 people (257 unemployed)

#9. Milwaukee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 471,239 people (16,256 unemployed)

#8. Rusk County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,265 people (219 unemployed)

#7. Bayfield County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,341 people (259 unemployed)

#6. Marinette County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,071 people (676 unemployed)

#5. Buffalo County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,940 people (215 unemployed)

#4. Iron County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,504 people (101 unemployed)

#3. Price County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,909 people (235 unemployed)

#2. Menominee County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,489 people (61 unemployed)

#1. Adams County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,022 people (340 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.