How many jobs were lost in Wisconsin last month?
Refreshed monthly
Wisconsin lost 13,700 jobs in September 2026, ranking it last 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 2,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-13.7K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
50th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
Wisconsin’s job loss of 13,700 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 11,500 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), Wisconsin gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+18,900) while job growth was weakest in September 2026 (-13,700).
There were 13,700 fewer jobs in September 2026 in Wisconsin than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Wisconsin sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were professional, scientific, and technical services, accommodation and food services, and private educational services. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 1,900 jobs, more than the entire economy. Accommodation and food services gained 900 jobs, while private educational services added 600. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were local government, construction, and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services. Local government lost 8,100 jobs in September 2026, while construction lost 3,300 jobs and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 1,600 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector lost 200 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Wisconsin (September 2026)
How has Wisconsin's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Wisconsin lost an average of 1,583 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,058, and the fourth-lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
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 5,800 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Wisconsin lost an average of 1,600 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among 13 metro areas primarily in Wisconsin during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 500 jobs in the Eau Claire, WI area to a gain of 600 jobs in the Madison, WI area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Wisconsin
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +600 | |
| 2. | +500 | |
| 3. | +200 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | +0 | |
| 7. | -100 | |
| 8. | -100 | |
| 9. | -100 | |
| 10. | -100 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
