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Although some Milwaukee healthcare jobs were added over the month and year during May, a few other industries fared better.

During May, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis area's unemployment rate decreased from 8.5 percent to 8.2 percent, following a decrease from 9.8 percent during April. That decrease keeps the area's rate below the national average at the time of 9.7 percent.

The Milwaukee area had a total non-farm employment of 799,500 workers during May, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 793,800 workers during April, but a 2.1 percent decrease from last year.

Only two industries lost jobs between April and May. The financial activities industry and other services industries declined by 100 jobs each. Employment in the information industry remained even over the month with 16,100 jobs.

The government industry added the most jobs over the month, increasing by 1,400 workers, for a total employment of 97,800.

Other industries that added jobs on a monthly basis include:

• Leisure and hospitality by 1,300 jobs
• Construction by 1,200 jobs
• Professional and business services by 1,000 jobs
• Trade, transportation and utilities by 500 jobs
• Manufacturing by 300 jobs
• Mining and logging by 100 jobs
• Education and health services by 100 jobs

Three industries managed to see a yearly increase in employment during May. The leisure and hospitality industry grew the most, increasing by 2.3 percent over the year, for a total of 71,800 jobs.

The government industry increased by 1.8 percent, while the education and health services industry rose by 1.5 percent to 147,000 workers. Employment in the mining and logging industry remained even over the year with 400 jobs.

Even though it added workers over the month, the construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry lost 12.1 percent of its workforce between May 2009 and May 2010 for a current total of 26,100 employees.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• Trade, transportation and utilities by 5.5 percent
• Financial activities by 5.1 percent
• Manufacturing by 4 percent
• Information by 2.4 percent
• Professional and business services by 2.4 percent
• Other services by 2.1 percent

Labels: Milwaukee healthcare jobs