Report: Wisconsin metro areas add jobs, report drops in unemployment rate in May

Statistics show Wisconsin metro areas adding jobs

MADISON, Wis. — State statistics show all 12 metropolitan areas of Wisconsin added jobs and reported drops in their unemployment rate in May.

The Department of Workforce Development says the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis area added 5,700 jobs in the month while the Madison area added 4,500. The 10 others added jobs, too.

Meanwhile, 71 out of 72 counties reported decreases in the local unemployment rate.

Wisconsin’s overall unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent in May, its lowest level in more than a year.

DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman called the statistics a sign of economic recovery, but says there is much more work to be done to help the unemployed.