A new study from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) takes a look at job growth rates across the state rather than considering the state as a whole. The study paints a clearer picture of where Wisconsin is at jobs-wise and how it compares to the rest of the nation.

“A Closer Look at Wisconsin’s Economy,” explores changes in employment and other economic indicators at the regional and county levels since 2000. Over the past 13 years, three of the state’s regions (south central, western and Fox Valley-northeast) added jobs while the three other regions (southeast, northern, central) lost jobs.

The report stresses the importance of analyzing strengths and weaknesses on a smaller scale over a longer time period so as not to “miss the trees for the forest.” Parts of the state outpaced the national job growth average whereas other parts did so poorly the state’s entire growth rate was dragged below the national average.