This WI City Has The Highest Unemployment Rate Among The State's Biggest Cities

Milwaukee had the highest unemployment rate among Wisconsin's 35 largest cities in August for the second straight month, according to new data released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

The city's preliminary rate was 5.0 percent, up from 4.8 percent a year ago. It was part of a broad statewide rise, with unemployment up over the past year in 30 of the 35 cities.

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Here's how the rankings shook out.

Highest unemployment rates, August 2026:

1. Milwaukee: 5.0 percent
2. Racine: 4.8 percent
3. Superior: 4.6 percent
4. Beloit: 4.5 percent
5. (tie) Mount Pleasant and West Allis: 3.8 percent

Lowest unemployment rates, August 2026:

1. Fitchburg: 2.6 percent
2. Sun Prairie: 2.8 percent
3. (tie) De Pere, Madison and West Bend: 2.9 percent

Biggest jumps from August 2025:

Superior: up 1.0 point (3.6 to 4.6 percent)
Mount Pleasant: up 0.7 points (3.1 to 3.8 percent)
Beloit, Muskego, Oak Creek and Wauwatosa: up 0.5 points each

Bucking the trend:

Only three cities saw unemployment fall over the past year: West Allis (3.9 to 3.8 percent), Eau Claire (3.3 to 3.2 percent) and De Pere (3.0 to 2.9 percent).

Where Milwaukee-area cities ranked (out of 35, with No. 1 being the lowest rate):

Waukesha: No. 8 (3.1 percent)
Menomonee Falls, Muskego, New Berlin and Wauwatosa: tied at No. 9 (3.2 percent)
Greenfield and Oak Creek: tied at No. 14 (3.3 percent)
Brookfield and Franklin: tied at No. 21 (3.4 percent)
Mequon: No. 25 (3.5 percent)
West Allis: tied at No. 30 (3.8 percent)
Milwaukee: No. 35 (5.0 percent)

At the county level, Milwaukee County's 4.4 percent rate ranked 69th out of 72 Wisconsin counties.

The figures are preliminary and not seasonally adjusted.