Second month in a row with a gain

The state jobs picture brightened in June -- a development that promoted a bit of celebration from Gov. Scott Walker's administration.

The monthly report released July 18, 2013 by the state Department of Workforce Development said that private-sector employers added 13,800 jobs in June. The news release included an observation from the department's secretary, Reggie Newson, who said it was "the largest month-to-month gain for any month since September 2003.”

Gov. Scott Walker's top campaign promise in 2010 was that the state would add 250,000 private sector jobs by the end of his four-year term.

The latest report marks the second month of increases in a row. May saw an increase of 12,600 jobs.

However, that came after one of the steepest monthly declines on record -- a loss of 20,800 jobs in April.  That was the steepest decline since a loss of 23,900 jobs in April 2009, as the economy tanked. State employers cut 83,200 in the first four months of that year.

Newson's release noted the state added about 62,000 jobs in the first two years of Walker's term, according to the most accurate figures available.

He said the jobs reports and other factors should be considered together to evaluate the health of the state's economy. "These economic indicators point to a trajectory of economic growth in Wisconsin under Governor Walker's leadership, and we must do everything we can to maintain this positive momentum.”

The June report is based on preliminary estimates from a small sample size that are subject to considerable revision. The monthly reports are among the tools we use to monitor Walker's jobs promise. For our tally we use a combination of the best available annual and monthly data supplied by the state and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The monthly reports for 2013 show that the state has added 18,800 jobs in the first six months of this year. Added to the previous two years, and the count is 80,882, meaning the governor has 169,118 jobs remaining to meet his goal. This promise remains In The Works.