Wis.’s jobless rate creeps up in March; labor officials say state gained manufacturing jobs

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate inches up in March

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s unemployment rate inched up in March, but state labor officials said there were gains in manufacturing jobs.

The state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate in March was 8.8 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from February. That compares with a national seasonally adjusted rate of 9.7 percent.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman said there was evidence of a slow, but steady economic recovery with Wisconsin adding 2,500 manufacturing jobs in March.