Department of Workforce Development

Tommy G. Thompson

Governor
State of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release – May 27, 1998
Contact: Kevin Keane (608) 266-8110

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES ALL-TIME RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
Jobless rate plummets to 2.4 percent in April; third lowest in nation

MADISON – Gov. Tommy G. Thompson announced today that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate hit an all-time low of 2.4 percent in April, giving the state the third lowest rate in the nation and shattering the previous record low of 2.9 percent set more than three decades ago.

Gov. Thompson said the record-low unemployment rate is a proud accomplishment for the people of Wisconsin as they prepare to celebrate the state’s 150^th birthday this Friday.

"Wisconsin works wonders when it comes to creating endless opportunities for our families," Gov. Thompson said. "Through hard work and smart investments in our people, we are building the strongest economy on record in Wisconsin. What a remarkable symbol of strength for our state as we celebrate our 150^th birthday this week."

Gov. Thompson said the April unemployment rate fell by nearly a full percentage point (seven-tenths) from 3.1 percent in March, the largest one-month drop in a decade. It represents a 1.3-percentage-point drop from April of last year.

All 11 of Wisconsin’s major urban areas experienced significant declines in their jobless rates in April. This includes a record low rate of 1.1 percent in Madison, which boasts the seventh lowest rate in the nation. Other notable rates are 1.7 percent in Sheboygan, 2 percent in La Crosse, 2.1 percent in Green Bay, 2.2 percent in Appleton-Oshkosh, and 2.6 percent in Milwaukee-Waukesha.

There were 11,500 more people working in April than in March, according to the latest seasonally adjusted employment figures. Wisconsin employers continue to have a high demand for workers throughout the state.

The April jobless figures for Wisconsin set several new standards, including:

• Lowest rate on record for any month in state history. The previous low was 2.9 percent set in October 1966 and tied in January 1969 and February 1998.
• Lowest rate for the month of April in state history. The previous record was 3.0 percent in 1966.
• Largest one-month drop since February 1988. The rate fell nine-tenths of a percent from 5.7 percent that January to 4.8 percent that February.
• Second-largest drop of any state between March and April of this year. Massachusetts dropped eight-tenths of a percent, but its overall rate is higher than Wisconsin’s.
• Third lowest rate in the nation for April of this year. North Dakota was lowest at 1.9 percent followed by Nebraska at 2.0 percent.