PHOTO PROVIDED BY COLAB

If you’re like us, the blizzard of numbers that come in news reports about the economy can be bewildering. In particular, unemployment statistics are updated monthly, sometimes get adjusted, and constantly fluctuate. In the past few years, fortunately, these numbers have told a pretty positive story. And while the Eau Claire metro area’s unemployment rate ticked upward in May when compared with the same month last year, it’s important to note that joblessness is still extremely low – at least historically speaking. In fact, the 2.6% unemployment rate in May 2019 is tied for the second-lowest it’s been during that month over the past 30 years (with May 2018 being the lowest). Likewise, the overall unemployment rate for 2018 in the metro area is the lowest its been since at least 1990, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.