MADISON — Unemployment rates are dropping in Wisconsin across the board, particularly in Rock County, according to the Department of Workforce Development in a new report.
The report cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates in Wisconsin for August of 2020.
In Metropolitan Statistical Areas, unemployment rates declined in all of Wisconsin's 12 metro areas. The largest decline occurred in the Janesville-Beloit metro area, according to the report.
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA has an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent, the highest in the state. That's compared to 8.6 percent the month before, and 3.8 percent in August of 2019.
In municipalities, unemployment rates declined in all of Wisconsin's 33 largest cities. The largest decrease occurred in the city of Beloit, the DWD finds.
Milwaukee also has the highest rate among cities, at 10.1 percent. That is down from a high of 11.4 percent in July, but up considerably from August of 2019, reported at 5.1 percent.
In Wisconsin's counties, unemployment rates declined in 71 of Wisconsin's 72 counties over the month. The largest decrease occurred in Dodge County, according to the DWD.
Milwaukee County has an unemployment rate pf 8.9 percent, only surpassed by Iron, Forest and Menominee counties.
BLS ranks Wisconsin with the 14th best unemployment rank among all states in the U.S., at 6.2 percent.
An 'unemployment rate' is defined by BLS as the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed over a period of time.
