How many jobs were lost in Wisconsin last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
Wisconsin gained 8,000 jobs in January 2026, ranking it 10th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 2,900 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+8K
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
10th
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
January 2026's gain of 8,000 jobs was the 3rd consecutive month of positive job growth in Wisconsin. Monthly job growth was up from the 2,200 new jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Wisconsin gained jobs in 39 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 11th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+18,900) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-9,800).
There were 8,000 more jobs in January 2026 in Wisconsin than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Wisconsin sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Wisconsin gained jobs in 39 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 11th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+18,900) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-9,800).
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, construction, and health care and social assistance. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 3,900 jobs. Construction gained 2,400 jobs, while health care and social assistance added 2,300. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 2,300 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Wisconsin (January 2026)
How does Wisconsin's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has gained an average of 558 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,300, and the smallest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as the 16th-highest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 10,200 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 3,800 on average every month in 2014.
In 2025, Wisconsin gained an average of 558 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 13 metro areas at least partially in Wisconsin during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 500 jobs in the Green Bay, WI area to a gain of 3,200 jobs in the Milwaukee, WI area metro area.
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
