Another month on the down side

For several months, Gov. Scott Walker has heralded a "manufacturing-led” recovery in the state's economy.

Those claims have come as the state releases its monthly jobs reports -- the measure we (and Walker's office) have used by to measure his promise that he will create 250,000 private-sector jobs in his four year term.

Walker has said manufacturing job increases were bright spots in July and August -- months where the state lost an estimated 11,600 jobs. Despite big declines in other areas, manufacturing gained 1,100 jobs.

Walker had to find a new story line to explain the employment figures contained in the Oct. 20, 2011 report from the state Department of Workforce Development.

Instead of comparing manufacturing with other sectors, the administration argued the unemployment rate in Wisconsin of 7.8 percent was lower than that in other Midwest states that rely on manufacturing.

The latest report showed a loss of 3,000 manufacturing jobs in September.

That wipes out gains logged in manufacturing in the previous three months. Between June and August, the state gained 1,900 manufacturing jobs, putting the state down 1,100 since June. However, the manufacturing sector now employs 446,600, compared with 433,900 when Walker took office -- an overall increase of 12,700 jobs.

The governor's top campaign promise was that the state would gain 250,000 private sector jobs in his four-year term. The latest report said the state lost 900 jobs in September, the third straight month of employment declines.

You can see our graphic scorecard with updated numbers here.

The latest report also adjusted down the job losses for August. The state lost 200 jobs that month, rather than the 800 previously estimated.

The latest monthly report means there has been a net increase of 29,300 jobs since Walker took over. That means he has 220,700 more to go to meet his pledge.
   
This promise remains In the Works.