Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisconsin Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Milwaukee fell 0.3 percentage points in December 2011 to 7.6%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Wisconsin rate. The unemployment rate in Milwaukee peaked in December 2009 at 9.6% and is now 2.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 7.6% in April 2011, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Milwaukee unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.5%	-0.2	-0.9
Wisconsin	7.1%	-0.2	-0.4
Milwaukee	7.6%	-0.3	-0.4

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with December 2011 data as January metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Milwaukee peaked in January 2010 at 76,278. There are now 15,036 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 61,080 in April 2011, the number of unemployed has now grown by 162. Milwaukee employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	December 2011	Month/Month	Year/Year
Milwaukee	61,242	-2,214	-1,958

Number of Unemployed Persons

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Wisconsin Unemployment Rate	Milwaukee Unemployment Rate	Milwaukee Unemployed
January 2012	8.3%	—	—	—
December 2011	8.5%	7.1%	7.6%	61,242
November 2011	8.7%	7.3%	7.9%	63,456
October 2011	8.9%	7.7%	8.1%	65,541
September 2011	9.0%	7.8%	8.1%	65,866
August 2011	9.1%	7.9%	8.1%	65,721
July 2011	9.1%	7.8%	8.1%	65,431
June 2011	9.1%	7.6%	7.9%	64,071
May 2011	9.0%	7.4%	7.7%	62,172
April 2011	9.0%	7.3%	7.6%	61,080
March 2011	8.9%	7.4%	7.7%	61,742
February 2011	9.0%	7.4%	7.9%	62,547
January 2011	9.1%	7.4%	7.9%	62,643