Progress in 2013, but a long way to go

Gov. Scott Walker took a significant stride toward meeting his 250,000 jobs promise during 2013, according to the latest report from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

But even with an estimated 43,900 jobs created -- far more than in his first two years in office -- the governor is less than halfway toward meeting his promise to create 250,000 private sector jobs in his four-year term.

The report issued Jan. 23, 2014 says that state employers created an estimated 3,000 jobs in December. The same report boosted the November finalized figure by 200 jobs to 4,200.

These reports come from the monthly Current Employment Statistics, a survey of about 3 percent of Wisconsin employers. They are preliminary and prone to considerable revision.

On the Walk-O-Meter we use a combination of the best-available numbers to measure Walker's progress on meeting his jobs promise. We use the more-accurate figures from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for the full year totals. (Data collection lags six months, and the final QCEW tally for 2013 won't be available until the middle of next year.)

For the first two years of his term the QCEW reports say the state added 63,672 jobs. For 2013, we add to that the running total of monthly Current Employment Survey figures.

Our Walk-O-Meter total: An increase of 107,572 jobs.

That's about 43 percent of the way toward the 250,000 mark with 12 months remaining in his term. You can see our updated graphic tracking progress on Walker's promise here.

Meanwhile, a couple notes about the 2013 monthly figures:

-- The state added jobs in nine months -- although two were tiny additions (700 in February and 100 in March). Four months -- January, May, June and October -- saw additions of more than 12,000.

-- There was an unusually sharp decline of 20,800 jobs in April. That was the single largest monthly swing -- positive or negative -- since Walker took office in January 2011.

To meet Walker's 250,000 pledge, the state would have to create in one year 34,853 more jobs than the previous three years combined. By another measure, it would have to add 11,869 jobs each month of 2014.

We're continue to rate this promise In the Works.