04/02BLS Data: Wisconsin January Employment Numbers Released; Unemployment Ticks Up to 3.3%

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BLS Data: Wisconsin January Employment Numbers Released; Unemployment Ticks Up to 3.3%

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced the following information for Wisconsin's labor market, reflecting January 2026 preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Employment - There were 3,017,400 people employed in Wisconsin, up 800 over the month and down 18,600 over the year.
• Labor Force - The state's labor force participation rate increased to 64.3%, which is 1.8 percentage points above the national rate of 62.5.
• Nonfarm Jobs - The total nonfarm jobs in the state were 3,032,500 an increase of 8,000 over December.
• Unemployment - The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up over December to 3.3% which is 1.0 percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 4.3%.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions - Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.