Madison Reporter

Greater Madison’s labor force has remained mostly unchanged compared to the previous quarter and year, according to the latest Metro Metrics report. The unemployment rate saw a slight increase but continues to be well below both the statewide and national averages. While the total workforce in Greater Madison decreased by 2.3% over the past year, longer-term trends indicate overall growth, with expectations that population increases will lead to further expansion of the labor force.

Employment gains were noted in sectors such as Information and Education and Health Services. The Information sector, which includes software publishing, remains an area where Greater Madison leads nationally in job concentration among metropolitan regions. Leisure and Hospitality employment rose by 5.3% since July of last year, highlighting ongoing strength in tourism. In contrast, declines were observed in Manufacturing; Trade, Transportation and Utilities; and Government sectors.

The Government sector experienced the largest decline over the past year—both proportionally (down 5.5%) and numerically (down 5,000 jobs). With about one-fifth of all jobs in Madison tied to federal, state, or local government roles, this decrease is notable for a city with a high concentration of public sector employment.

Building permit activity remained significant during the past quarter, with more than 2,200 units approved across the metro area. Although permit approvals are slightly behind last year's pace so far in 2025, continued momentum could see totals surpass those from last year if current trends persist.

Dane County Regional Airport reported continued passenger growth. July figures showed an increase of more than 10% compared to last year—exceeding pre-pandemic levels and setting a new record for July travel volume. Year-to-date passenger numbers also climbed by over 5%, marking another record for airport usage.

“The continued growth in passenger counts through business and leisure use supports ongoing partner conversations with airlines on the demand for new and more frequent nonstop service.”