Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI local economy
74th
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ranks in the 74th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
Business formation
New business applications or registrations was 23,590 in January 2025, up 14.3% from January 2024.
Building permits
Dwelling units authorized by permit was 228 in July 2026.
Employment
Payrolled or covered employment was 806,630 in January 2026.
New business applications or registrations was 23,590 in January 2025, up 14.3% from January 2024. Dwelling units authorized by permit was 228 in July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI rank among United States metros?
- Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ranks in the 74th percentile of United States metros as of September 2026, with momentum rising over the past 12 months.
- What is the new business applications or registrations in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
- New business applications or registrations in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was 23,590 in January 2025.
- What is the dwelling units authorized by permit in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
- Dwelling units authorized by permit in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was 228 in July 2026.
- What is the payrolled or covered employment in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
- Payrolled or covered employment in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was 806,630 in January 2026.
Nearby and related
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Building Permits Survey (BPS), CBSA monthly
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), national all-industry
Method: 2026.09. Updated 2026-09-10. Coverage: 100% of weighted components available.
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Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI local economy indicators. LocalEconomy.com. Retrieved 2026-10-09 from https://localeconomy.com/us/metro/milwaukee-waukesha-wi/