Overall non-seasonally adjusted unemployment increased to 9.7 percent in February, up from January's rate of 9.6 percent.
According to the February report from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, unemployment increased in five metropolitan areas. Beloit and Racine topped the list of cities with the highest unemployment rates with 18.3 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively.
Unemployment rates dropped in 22 counties and 12 cities. Madison was listed as the city with the lowest unemployment rate at 5.7 percent. Unemployment remained steady from January in Appleton, Green Bay and the Milwaukee area.
DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said she is ""optimistic"" that Wisconsin's economy is improving. According to the report, Wisconsin gained 4,800 jobs in February.
""We are posting job gains that show Wisconsin is moving toward recovery,"" she said in a statement.
Wisconsin remains below the national non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 10.4 percent.
