Wisconsin labor report lists conflicting September jobless rates
Wisconsin’s preliminary September labor estimates, published by the Department of Workforce Development on Oct. 15, give conflicting readings of the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. The release text says the rate was 3.2%, unchanged from August. The attached seasonally adjusted table lists 2.9% in September, down from 3.4% in August. A separate, not-seasonally-adjusted table lists 3.2% for both months.
The attached adjusted table lists the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.0%; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 4.2% nationally for September.
| Wisconsin labor measure | September level | Change from August | Change from September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed residents, not seasonally adjusted | 3,056,300 | +10,100 | +45,600 |
| Nonfarm payroll jobs, not seasonally adjusted | 3,043,300 | −13,700 | +13,000 |
| Nonfarm payroll jobs, seasonally adjusted | 3,054,400 | −29,600 | +14,400 |
Resident employment counts people by where they live; payroll figures count jobs at workplaces. DWD identifies the estimates as preliminary. The BLS scheduled its September state employment and unemployment release for Oct. 20, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central.
Sources
- BLS Data: Wisconsin September Employment Numbers Released; Unemployment Holds Steady at 3.2%, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- The Employment Situation — September 2026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- State Employment and Unemployment Summary — August 2026 Results, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- www.dwd.wisconsin.gov
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