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La Crosse was one of eight Wisconsin metro areas to add jobs in March, as the local unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent.

Led by gains in private education and health services, hospitality, and the retail and financial sectors, La Crosse added about 700 jobs in March, according to seasonally adjusted data released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Only Madison and Racine added more.

Big losses in the Milwaukee and Green Bay areas resulted in a net loss of 4,500 jobs for the state.

Regional labor market analyst Bill Brockmiller called the numbers “seasonal and expected.” He credited Easter shopping and warmer weather with some of the gains, while pointing out that two years ago, during the depths of the recession, such seasonal gains weren’t always noticeable.

The local unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percentage points in March after rising for the previous two months, which is typical for the season. The jobless rate was down 0.6 points from the same month last year.

In a news release, DWD Secretary Reggie Newson pointed to an improving jobless rate. Compared to a year ago, the March unemployment rate was lower in all 12 metro areas, major cities and all but three counties.

La Crosse had about 400 more jobs in March than a year ago.

Wholesale trade, health care, and hospitality posted the biggest gains. The only sector to lose ground was government, where the metro area saw a 14.3 percent decline in state jobs.


Read more: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/local-jobless-rate-dips-in-march/article_39e79e94-8f5c-11e1-839c-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1t8qh8JKM