U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Wisconsin private-sector job growth ranked 38th in 2014

MADISON — Wisconsin's private-sector job growth ranked 38th in the country last year, trailing the national average.

Data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows private sector jobs grew in Wisconsin by 1.51 percent last year. That lagged the national average of 2.6 percent growth over the year.

Gov. Scott Walker promised to create 250,000 private-sector jobs over his first term in office. But the numbers show that only 129,000 jobs were created during that period. In 2014, 35,759 private sector jobs were created in Wisconsin.

Walker has said the 250,000 job-creation number remains a goal, but he emphasizes other numbers to back up his argument that he improved Wisconsin's economy as he prepares for a likely presidential run.