(MADISON) People across Dodge, Jefferson, Fond du Lac and Columbia counties were more likely to be out of work in December than they were just a month earlier, according to new state labor data.
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported that unemployment climbed from November to December in all four counties, following a statewide pattern of higher jobless rates at the end of the year.
In Dodge County, the unemployment rate jumped to 2.6 percent in December, up from 2.2 percent in November. Compared with a year earlier, unemployment in Dodge County was also higher. The rate stood at 2.4 percent in December 2024, marking a year-to-year increase of two-tenths of a percentage point.
Jefferson County saw the sharpest month-to-month increase among the four counties. Its unemployment rate rose from 2.4 percent in November to 2.9 percent in December, a half-point increase as the year came to a close.
In Fond du Lac County, unemployment increased from 2.4 percent in November to 2.7 percent in December. The rise mirrored changes seen across much of the region as seasonal employment slowed.
Columbia County posted a similar shift, with the unemployment rate climbing from 2.4 percent in November to 2.7 percent in December.
State officials note the county figures are not seasonally adjusted and often reflect typical winter slowdowns in construction, retail and other seasonal industries.
