Contact: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
MADISON – Today’s release of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) state-by-state Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW) data covering the third quarter of 2016 reaffirm that quarterly wages by covered Wisconsin private-sector employers grew by 7 percent during the year ending in September 2016. Data also showed Wisconsin added 25,562 private-sector jobs from September 2015 to September 2016.
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen issued the following statement in response to the new data:
“Today’s data show that Wisconsin’s economy continues to create thousands of high paying jobs year-over-year,” Secretary Allen said. “With a 7 percent growth in private-sector quarterly wages and almost 25,600 private-sector jobs created between September 2015 and September 2016, Wisconsin’s economy is benefiting from common-sense reforms and incentives to drive business growth and develop the workforce.”
Other indicators of the state of Wisconsin’s economy include:
- Initial UI claims ended 2016 at their lowest level since 1988. Continuing unemployment claims ended 2016 at their lowest level since 1973.
- More people were employed last year in Wisconsin than at any point in our state’s history.
- After adjusting for inflation, total private sector wages in 2015 grew 5.1%, the best growth since 2001.
- After adjusting for inflation, average weekly wages in 2015 increased 3.6%, the best growth since 2001.
The BLS’ full QCEW report is available online.
