Waukesha Unemployment Rate Back Over 7 Percent in June

With an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, Waukesha had the 19th worst rate out of the state's 31 municipalities with population of 25,000 or more. 

The local unemployment rate worsened from May to June, increasing from 8.7 percent in May to June's 9.5 percent, according to information released by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. One year ago, the rate in Waukesha was 9.8 percent.

Waukesha County had one of the better unemployment rates in the state, ranking in the lowest quarter of the state's counties. The county rate was 7.3 percent in June and 6.7 percent in May. One year ago, Waukesha County's rate was 7.7 percent. 

The Milwaukee metropolitan area, which includes Waukesha, had an overall unemployment rate of 8.7 percent in June. The statewide unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in June. 

Other facts

• All 12 of the state's metro areas saw the unemployment rate increase from May to June.
• All 31 of the state's municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more saw increases in their unemployment rates from May to June, though 23 of them had increases less than 1 percent.
• Most of the 12,900 private-sector jobs added in June (the largest one-month jump since September 2003) appeared to be in non-metro areas, according to DWD Secretary Scott Baumbach. Tourism may be behind that number, with the state's leisure and hospitality industry gaining 6,200 jobs in June. 
• Increases in unemployment rates from May to June are in part due to students who finish the academic year and enter the job market for summer employment. The June numbers are preliminary, and may be revised.