Here’s a pop quiz only an economist would love: Wisconsin metropolitan areas showing robust growth between July 2003 and July 2004 were (a) Madison (b) Green Bay (c) La Crosse or (d) Milwaukee-Waukesha.

Statistically speaking, the only wrong answer is (a) Madison. Although the unemployment rate in Wisconsin’s capital city remains the lowest in the state at 2.4 percent, the year-to-year growth rate in the Madison area was barely a blip on the screen. Why? As many government jobs disappeared in the Madison area as the private sector was able to create.

Meanwhile, Green Bay has emerged as a national leader in job growth, and the Milwaukee-Waukesha and La Crosse areas showed renewed strength, as well.

Green Bay weighed in 32nd overall in creating jobs – and 5th in percentage growth at 4.1 percent. Go Green Bay!

[via Wisconsin Technology Network]