Wisconsin added 39,599 jobs in the 12 month period ending in March, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.
The largest gainers were the construction and natural resources industries. Construction jobs were up 6.9 percent, while natural resources and mining jobs increased 6.5 percent year-over-year.
Total wages in the first quarter were $31 billion, up 4 percent from $29.9 billion in the first quarter of 2014.
The state has been making steady additions to the workforce, having added 40,356 jobs from February 2014 to February 2015 and 39,748 jobs from January 2014 to January 2015.
The preliminary data released by the DWD is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages, which is based on actual job reports from 135,000 Wisconsin employers.
“The private sector is creating employment opportunities for tens of thousands of working families across our state year after year,” said Reggie Newson, DWD secretary. “We are working aggressively with employers, economic development entities, technical colleges and other partners to advance innovative programs that ensure workers are prepared for these new opportunities as the state’s economy grows and adds more jobs.”
