Fox Cities Chamber: Opinion: Workforce Innovation Grants Will Help Find Long-Term Solutions To State's Labor Needs

Appleton WI

19 October, 2021

9:39 PM

Description

Press release from the Fox Cities Chamber: October 19, 2021 Wisconsin's workers are always on our minds, especially now as our state and our economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Every worker is so vital, the value of their work significant. Gov. Evers and our administration have made key decisions over the past eighteen months that have put our state in the best position to recover. Despite double-digit job losses last year, Wisconsin's unemployment rate is back to nearly pre-pandemic levels. Even more telling, Wisconsin's labor force participation is among the highest in the country and is well above the national average. In other words, Wisconsin is getting back to work. Nevertheless, the long-term workforce challenge that has affected our state for the last decade persists: we need more workers. As DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek and I have learned through our travels around the state recently, this situation carries its own set of challenges. About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit wedc.org or follow WEDC on Twitter @WEDCNews to learn more. This press release was produced by the Fox Cities Chamber. The views expressed here are the author's own.