Counties with the highest unemployment in Wisconsin

The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.

Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.

The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.

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 January 2025, 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: Jobs report shows softening labor market

February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.

"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.

Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.

The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market

After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.

Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.

The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.

In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."

"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.

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

50. Lafayette County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,785 people (334 unemployed)

46. Portage County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 37,529 people (1,305 unemployed)

46. Shawano County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,204 people (710 unemployed)

46. Waupaca County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,799 people (942 unemployed)

46. Sauk County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,746 people (1,236 unemployed)

45. Richland County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,229 people (300 unemployed)

44. Grant County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,675 people (957 unemployed)

42. Kenosha County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 95,209 people (3,601 unemployed)

42. Vernon County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,539 people (550 unemployed)

40. Clark County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,253 people (671 unemployed)

40. Rock County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 86,999 people (3,405 unemployed)

39. Wood County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,793 people (1,467 unemployed)

36. Dunn County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,673 people (1,042 unemployed)

36. Oconto County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,669 people (858 unemployed)

36. Milwaukee County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 459,631 people (19,200 unemployed)

34. Racine County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 100,485 people (4,339 unemployed)

34. Juneau County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,416 people (539 unemployed)

31. Florence County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,060 people (91 unemployed)

31. Green Lake County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,900 people (393 unemployed)

31. Langlade County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,102 people (397 unemployed)

26. Lincoln County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,863 people (617 unemployed)

26. Menominee County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,403 people (63 unemployed)

26. Ashland County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,652 people (345 unemployed)

26. St. Croix County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 54,983 people (2,474 unemployed)

26. Trempealeau County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,986 people (681 unemployed)

24. Oneida County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,128 people (854 unemployed)

24. Pierce County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,943 people (1,182 unemployed)

22. Door County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,740 people (710 unemployed)

22. Waushara County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,073 people (528 unemployed)

21. Marinette County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,837 people (975 unemployed)

20. Chippewa County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,060 people (1,738 unemployed)

16. Marquette County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,679 people (395 unemployed)

16. Vilas County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,139 people (517 unemployed)

16. Barron County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,779 people (1,154 unemployed)

16. Pepin County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,892 people (200 unemployed)

15. Sawyer County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,281 people (438 unemployed)

14. Price County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,162 people (332 unemployed)

10. Buffalo County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,074 people (401 unemployed)

10. Taylor County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,986 people (574 unemployed)

10. Crawford County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,030 people (401 unemployed)

10. Forest County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,309 people (246 unemployed)

9. Douglas County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,069 people (1,331 unemployed)

8. Rusk County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,154 people (364 unemployed)

7. Jackson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +2.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,641 people (515 unemployed)

6. Washburn County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +2.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,986 people (425 unemployed)

5. Bayfield County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,539 people (483 unemployed)

4. Polk County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: +2.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 24,242 people (1,633 unemployed)

3. Iron County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,815 people (194 unemployed)

2. Adams County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: +2.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,463 people (613 unemployed)

1. Burnett County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.3%
--- 1-month change: +2.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,686 people (559 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.