State jobless rate takes slight dip
9:02 PM 11/20/03
Associated Press

Wisconsin's unemployment rate dipped slightly in October to 5.4 percent but the state lost 5,000 manufacturing jobs during the month. <

Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 5.7 percent, according to the state Department of Workforce Development. <

The national seasonally adjusted rate for October was 6 percent, down from 6.1 percent in September. <

Jobs in the state's nonfarm wage and salary economy increased by 20,200 in October to 2,811,200, the department said. <

Much of the increase can be attributed to school districts bringing on their full staffs for the year after September statistics already had been compiled, state labor market economist Terry Ludeman said. <

Several industries, including retail, education and health care, also added jobs, Ludeman said. <

But the manufacturing sector continued to struggle. <

The state had 509,500 manufacturing jobs in October, down from 514,500 in September and 527,500 in October 2002. <

Wisconsin manufacturers still face international competition and are cutting costs, Ludeman said. <

"Manufacturing again continues to get beat up," he said. <

Claims for unemployment insurance in 2003 have averaged 13,041 per week over the first 46 weeks of the year, compared with 12,814 for the same period in 2002, according to department figures. <

The unemployment rate is based on the number of people seeking employment. Those who are jobless but not actively looking for work are not included in the rate. <