Wisconsin Job Growth Stalls as Unemployment Drifts Up and Racial Gaps Widen

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 4, 2026

A new University of Wisconsin-Madison report finds Wisconsin job growth has 'ground to a halt' after peak employment in November 2024, with the state now losing jobs and unemployment rising from 2.6% in 2023 to 3.3%. Black unemployment in the state has reached 7.2% — more than triple the white unemployment rate of 2.3% — signaling deepening labor market inequality. Despite record median wages of $26.17/hour in 2025, inflation is eroding those gains in 2026. For staffing agencies operating in Wisconsin, slowing job creation and tightening client budgets may dampen placement volume while wage pressure and equity concerns reshape hiring priorities.