While December ended the year with low unemployment and more than 3 million people working, 2024 has been difficult for some Wisconsin workers, particularly those in health care.
In January, hospital closings in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire left 1,068 people without jobs. Those hospitals, run by Hospital Sisters Health System also impacted associated clinics run by Prevea Health, which laid off 323 employees.
In total, 1,897 Wisconsin workers were informed in January that they are losing their jobs.
In December, 32 of the state’s 35 largest cities had unemployment at the same or lower from November. Over the year, all 35 cities saw unemployment rates increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the Milwaukee area, the most recent data from November showed businesses added 3,400 jobs during the last 12 months to roughly 860,600 jobs, according to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
The unemployment rate in the Milwaukee area also rose to 3.1% year over year in November, according to the MMAC. But it is still below the national average of 3.5% unemployment.