Unemployment decreased around the state, a Wednesday report said, with students likely a driving force for job creation.
The report from the Department of Workforce Development said unemployment decreased in nine of the state's 12 metropolitan areas.
Madison had the lowest unemployment rate with 4.2 percent. Racine had the highest unemployment rate with 9.8 percent, the report said.
Eric Grosso, state labor economist at the DWD, said the trends shown in the report are fairly typical, with unemployment rates decreasing as warm weather increases.
The state may gain tens of thousands of more jobs between April and July,"" Grosso said.
He said students are often one of the reasons unemployment drops in the summer, as more workers become available. Students are available for part-time or outdoor labor during a time when employers need extra workers, Grosso said.
Wisconsin's economy, with its emphasis on tourism and outdoor activities, has a job market that is more affected by the seasons than other states, according to Grosso.
It is difficult to determine if high gas prices in the state would affect the labor market, Grosso said, adding it is likely high prices would cause employers to be more cautious in hiring.
However, he said high prices might mean Midwestern tourists would be more likely to travel to a regional destination like Wisconsin.
""While people may not be jetting off to Europe this summer, they may be staying a little closer to home,"" Grosso said.
Other business indicators of a strong summer economy appear less optimistic, with Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson recently cutting 730 jobs and reducing production, according to a Harley-Davidson first-quarter earnings report. The motorcycle maker said the cuts were because sales declined worldwide and executives felt uncertain about the national economy.
