CBEI Central Wisconsin Spring 2026 Report

Labor Market Statistics Table 6 Labor Market Indicators from LAUS and retrieved from WisConomy (First Quarter 2026)

Labor Force

Unemployment Rate

Employment

Labor Market Area

2026 Q1 (x1000)

% ∆ Yr. Ago

2025 Q1

2026 Q1

2026 Q1 (x1000)

% ∆ Yr. Ago

Portage County

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

City of Stevens Point Marathon County

Wood County

Wisconsin

United States

170,087

-5.30%

4.2

4.3

162,848

-0.40%

Description: • Labor Force: Includes all people over the age 16 who are either working or actively looking for work (in thousands). • Unemployment Rate: The number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. • Employment: Includes all people over age 16 who are working (in thousands). Analysis: • The late release of data prevented the publication of labor market indicators at the state, county, and local levels. • Employment growth over the last year for the United States has been stagnant. • US has experienced a significant decline in the labor force as well.

County Economic Statistics Table 8 Help Wanted Advertising (First Quarter 2026)

Stevens Point

Wausau

Marshfield

Wisconsin Rapids

Merrill

Index # 2026 Q1

% ∆ Yr. Ago

Index # 2026 Q1

% ∆ Yr. Ago

Index # 2026 Q1

% ∆ Yr. Ago

Index # 2026 Q1

% ∆ Yr. Ago

Index # 2025 Q3

% ∆ Yr. Ago 111.9%

3359

87.9% 3944

-27.5% 2590

89.1% 2962

94.6% 3871

Description: • Presents index values for online job advertising for Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, and Merrill Analysis: • Help Wanted Advertising is a leading indicator of local labor market conditions. • All areas except for Wausau experienced an increase in online job advertising over the year, indicating a healthy labor market.

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Center for Business and Economic Insight

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