Minnesota, Wisconsin release unemployment rates for December

New data shows the unemployment rate has lowered in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

According to Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage since November to 3.1%, a seasonally adjusted rate. The not seasonally adjusted rate stands at 2.7%.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) says the state’s unemployment rate lowered to 2.8% in December, down from 3.0% in November.

The DWD says the total number of people who are counted as unemployed in Wisconsin is 86,200.

The reported declines in the two states come on the same day the Labor Department reported jobless claims rose for a third straight week across the United States.

According to the Labor Department, the claims increased by 55,000 to 286,000, which they say is the highest since mid-October. In addition, federal officials report the four-week average of claims rose to 231,000.

However, the federal unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in December.