Milwaukee County’s real GDP grew 5.2% in 2021, reaching its highest level on record a year after the COVID-19 pandemic shrank Milwaukee County’s economy to its lowest level since 2009.
Seven of the eight counties in the southeastern Wisconsin region managed to exceed pre-pandemic GDP levels in 2021. The one exception was Ozaukee County. At $4.85 billion, its 2021 GDP remained below its 2019 level of $4.95 billion, measured in 2012 dollars. The county did see 1.5% growth from 2020 to 2021, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Kenosha County was the fastest growing in the region at 7%. The county, which has seen continued development of industrial and distribution projects actually saw GDP growth in 2020 after seeing a small dip in 2019.
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