MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – Unemployment held steady in the Wausau metro area last month at 7.2 percent but the city of Wausau still had the third highest jobless rate in the state at 10.5 percent.

New numbers from the state workforce development department show the local jobless rate stayed the same in October for nine metro areas. All 12 metro areas had lower rates than a year ago.

“We are encouraged by signs of recovery, but we have more work to do to help job seekers across the state find employment,” department Secretary Roberta Gassman said.

Madison's metro area had the lowest rate in the state at 5.5 percent. The highest rate belonged to Janesville, which came in at 9.5 percent.

The October numbers are preliminary, not seasonally adjusted and subject to revision within the next several weeks.