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Economists say new jobs numbers more accurate

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Economists say new jobs numbers being reported by Gov. Scott Walker's administration are a more accurate reflection of how the state is doing.

But even if the figures released Wednesday are accurate, the 23,300 jobs created in 2011 are far from the 62,500 needed per year for Walker to meet his 2010 campaign pledge to create 250,000 by 2015.

And the new figures cover both private and public jobs while Walker's promise was only for public sector jobs.

Still, the new numbers based on a census of Wisconsin employers instead of a much smaller survey show a net gain of 23,300 jobs instead of a loss of 33,900 jobs.

University of Wisconsin-Madison economist Andrew Reschovsky says the data is more accurate. Wells Fargo Fund Management economist Brian Jacobsen agrees.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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WALKER/BARRETT TALK JOBS:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker is touting new positive jobs numbers he says is a more accurate reflection of how the state's economy is turning around.

But his Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says Walker is cooking the books by releasing the figures before they have been reviewed by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The figures based on a census of businesses released Wednesday show Wisconsin gained 23,300 public and private jobs in 2011. Previous totals based on a smaller survey of businesses showed the state lost 33,900 jobs over the year.

Barrett says he has no idea whether the new figures are accurate.

Walker promised to create 250,000 private sector jobs over four years. That amounts to 62,500 a year.

The recall election is June 5.