Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS state series; Wisconsin usually runs below the national rate.
Employment
People at work.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED WINA).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Employment (M) | 3.06 | 161.3 |
- •Wisconsin has set repeated records for total employment since 2022.
Unemployment
Joblessness.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average of seasonally adjusted months (FRED WIUR).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.0 | 4.1 |
- •Wisconsin's unemployment rate has stayed below the national rate for most of the past decade.
Labor Force
Size of the working population.
Civilian labor force
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED WILF).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force (M) | 3.15 | 168.3 |
- •Wisconsin's labour force participation rate is one of the highest in the country.
Occupations
Largest job categories.
Workers in management, business, science and arts occupations
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian employed 16+, C24010 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing share of jobs (%) | 15.7 | 8.0 |
- •About one in six Wisconsin jobs is in manufacturing, roughly double the national share.
Salaries
Pay levels.
Average weekly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU55000000500000011).
Average hourly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU55000000500000003).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage (USD) | 49200 | 48060 |
- •Wisconsin still uses the federal minimum wage of $7.25, unchanged since 2009.
Remote Work
Working from home.
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Remote work share (%) | 14 | 18 |
- •Remote work is less common in Wisconsin than nationally because of its manufacturing-heavy job mix.
Workforce Participation
Share of adults in the labor force.
Labor force participation rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED LBSSA55).
| Indicator | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation (%) | 65.4 | 62.6 |
- •Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top ten states for labour force participation.