Wisconsin Job Market in Decline | Milwaukee News

Wisconsin’s job market is facing a troubling reversal: after hitting a peak of over three million jobs in November 2024, the state lost positions by July 2026 — even as wages hit record highs, inflation is eroding those gains. Unemployment, though still low, is creeping up from 2.6% in 2023 to around 3.3% now, with officials warning it’ll keep climbing. The crisis hits hardest for Black residents, whose unemployment rate hit 7.2% in Q1 — matching the national average — while white workers saw just 2.3%. Meanwhile, unionization has plummeted nearly 50% since 2011, and the minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 — despite calls for change. Record pay? Yes. But the economic sky’s turning gray for many Wisconsinites — especially those left behind by widening inequality. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/123a6e7c1ed23d60