Although the economy has shown signs of improvement, the vacancy rate for industrial space in southeastern Wisconsin rose during the first quarter to 9.0 percent, up from 8.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the first quarter industrial market report from Milwaukee-based The Dickman Company Inc.
Milwaukee County has the highest industrial space vacancy rate in the region, at 12.0 percent, up from 11.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Kenosha County has the second highest industrial space vacancy rate in the region, at 10.2 percent, but that was an improvement compared to the county’s 11.6 percent vacancy rate in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Racine County’s industrial space vacancy rate rose to 7.7 percent in the first quarter, up from 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter.
The other counties had little to no change in their vacancy rates. Waukesha County has a 6.3 percent industrial space vacancy rate; Ozaukee County, 9.7 percent; Sheboygan County, 3.5 percent; Walworth County, 8.2 percent; Washington County, 7.8 percent.
