Jobless rates fall in Wisconsin metro areas

February unemployment in Wisconsin metropolitan areas ranged from 3.3% in Madison to 5.4% in Racine, the State Department of Workforce Development said Wednesday. Jobless rates declined from February 2016 levels in all 12 metropolitan areas of Wisconsin.

The rate last month for metro Milwaukee, which includes Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee Counties, was 4.5%, down from 4.8% a year earlier.

Year-over-year comparisons are the most appropriate way to look at the local unemployment rates, because they are not adjusted for normal seasonal fluctuations in the workforce.

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