BLS Estimates 8,400 Private-Sector Jobs Were Added In September

New monthly estimates show Wisconsin added 8,400 private-sector jobs in September while the unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent.

The estimates have a large margin of error and are subject to significant revisions, but as it stands right now, the 8,400 jobs created would make September one of Wisconsin’s best months this year. Similarly, the 5.5 percent unemployment rate is the lowest since the recession.

Over the longer term, the jobs numbers haven’t changed much. Combining all of this year’s monthly estimates with more accurate quarterly numbers covering Walker’s first three years shows that the state has added a total of about 111,295 jobs since Walker took office — less than half the 250,000 jobs Walker promised.

These are the last monthly estimates to be released before Election Day, and politically speaking may give Gov. Scott Walker something to talk about. Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke have both made use of these estimates when the numbers suit them. Notably, Walker criticized the monthly numbers two years ago during his recall campaign, saying they were unreliable.