Preliminary data show Wisconsin hits second consecutive monthly record for employment

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today announced Wisconsin ranked first in the nation for inflation-adjusted hourly earnings growth during February, March, and May 2024, and second in the nation during April, according to the preliminary data on private sector worker earnings released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The news comes as, last week, Gov. Evers and DWD announced preliminary data show Wisconsin hit its second consecutive monthly record for employment.

“Whether we’re looking at our nationally top-ranked wage growth, our record-high employment, or our strong workforce participation, it’s clear that Wisconsinites are working and working hard, and our economy continues to have positive momentum,” said Gov. Evers. “We’ve made it a priority to build a strong 21st-century workforce to support a strong 21st-century economy, and it’s making a difference for working families across our state. This accomplishment reflects not only the dedication and resilience of our employers and our workforce, but it also shows that together we’re building a more prosperous future for our state.”

For February, March, April, and May, year-over-year statewide earnings growth totaled 7.9 percent, 6.4 percent, 4.4 percent, and 6.2 percent, respectively, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and the Consumer Price Index. The CES survey covers hourly earnings by workers at private sector establishments.

Statewide, the average hourly earnings for May 2024 totaled $33.76. The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis area led the state with average hourly earnings of $34.97, followed by Madison at $34.48 per hour and Eau Claire at $31.63 per hour.

“Wisconsin’s workers and employers are benefiting from historic investments in workforce development that are building skills, boosting productivity, and helping our industries remain competitive in the dynamic world economy,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “While this latest real hourly wage data is preliminary, it signals important progress in helping our workers and their families strengthen their financial footing and plan for the future. At the same time, Wisconsin’s workforce continues to deliver significant value to employers as our median annual wage remains close to the U.S. midpoint.”

The positive pay gains for workers come as Wisconsin employers are finding success in attracting and retaining talent. Last week, Gov. Evers and DWD announced Wisconsin achieved new record highs for employment and total nonfarm jobs during June 2024, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of people employed increased by 600 over the month to a record-high 3,048,600 employed, breaking the previous record set in May 2024.

In addition to the record-high employment, Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 65.5 percent in June, a full 3.0 percentage points better than the national rate.

For 2023, the most recent full year of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Wisconsin’s median wage totaled $47,590, slightly below the U.S. median of $48,060.

An online version of this release is available here.