Wisconsin Job Market Sends Good News Before Summer

WISCONSIN — Wisconsin’s job market showed signs of strength heading into summer, with the state adding 9,000 nonfarm jobs in April while the unemployment rate held steady, according to newly released federal labor estimates.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development said the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent in April.

That was below the national unemployment rate of 4.3 percent, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Wisconsin also continued to outpace the nation in labor force participation. The state’s labor force participation rate was unchanged at 64.4 percent in April, compared with the national rate of 61.8 percent.

There were 3,020,100 people employed in Wisconsin in April, up 400 from March but down 2,900 from April 2025, according to DWD.

The state had 3,028,800 total nonfarm jobs in April, an increase of 9,000 over the month.

Neighboring Minnesota also reported job growth in April, adding 15,900 nonfarm jobs over the month while its unemployment rate held steady at 4.5 percent, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Minnesota’s April job growth rate also outpaced the national rate, DEED said.

The Wisconsin numbers are preliminary and reflect April estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.