Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has declared 2024 as the "Year of the Worker" in an effort to confront the state's persistent workforce challenges. This announcement was made during his sixth annual State of the State address in January, where Evers highlighted new initiatives intended to prepare Wisconsin's workforce for the demands of a modern economy. Among the initiatives launched are the state's first-ever teacher apprenticeship pilot program and the establishment of the Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce.
In his remarks, Gov. Evers stated, "I declared 2024 the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin to pursue every pathway and seek every avenue to address our long-standing workforce challenges that had long been neglected—with or without legislative action—just as we had since Day One. And it’s clear my administration’s efforts are paying off." His commitment extends to reducing barriers to employment, expanding access to job training, and focusing on the recruitment and retention of skilled workers.
The Evers Administration has reported several achievements since the onset of initiatives to bolster the workforce. This includes a historic record of employment over seven consecutive months and a drop in unemployment rates, which reached an all-time low of 2.4% in April 2023. Notably, nine counties in Wisconsin have recorded the lowest unemployment rates on record, reinforcing the governor's agenda to enhance economic performance across the state.
Key to the state's workforce strategy is the Governor’s Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce, which was created through Executive Order #220. This task force is designed to tackle significant issues facing the healthcare sector, including recruitment and retention, educational pathways, and the enhancement of patient care. In August, after extensive consultation, the task force released a report with ten recommendations aimed at addressing these issues.
Additionally, the Evers Administration has made substantial investments in the long-term care workforce, securing additional funding amounting to over $1.2 billion since 2019. Most recently, an allocation of $258 million was directed to enhance pay for direct care workers, significantly supporting Wisconsin's efforts to maintain and improve its caregiving services.
In the education sector, where average teacher turnover hit an alarming 15.8% in the 2022-23 school year, the Evers Administration is focusing on retention and recruitment strategies. The newly launched teacher apprenticeship programme is designed to offer mentorship and training opportunities, particularly targeting low-income and underrepresented students interested in education careers. During National Apprenticeship Week, the governor celebrated the first cohort of eight apprentices entering this program.
Moreover, Gov. Evers has announced record participation in Wisconsin’s Registered Apprenticeship Programme, with 17,089 apprentices enrolled, marking a continuation of trends in workforce development that have seen expanded opportunities in both youth and adult apprenticeship pathways.
In an ambitious initiative to support the clean energy workforce, the U.S. Climate Alliance Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative has also been launched. This aims to train over one million registered apprentices by 2035 across member states, positioning Wisconsin as a key player in this national effort.
Another cornerstone of the Evers administration’s approach involves significant investments in the University of Wisconsin System. The governor proposed over $400 million in increased state funding, aimed at enhancing educational resources to better equip the future workforce. This comes in the wake of declining funding levels that have seen many campuses facing closures and programme cuts.
Further, Gov. Evers has welcomed substantial investments from major corporations to bolster job creation within the state, including Microsoft’s $3.3 billion investment in new cloud and AI infrastructure. Other significant investments include a $3 billion expansion from Eli Lilly, which is expected to generate an estimated 750 new jobs.
On housing, Gov. Evers is advocating for affordable housing initiatives, having proposed a budget containing one of the largest investments in workforce housing in state history. This aims to address the broader challenges workers face in securing affordable housing while meeting job demands.
Regarding taxation, Gov. Evers has made moves to reduce the tax burden on Wisconsin families, with a reported $1.5 billion in annual tax relief attributed to income tax cuts instituted during his tenure. The state’s tax burden has seen a historic low as a result of these policies, which officials say supports working families.
The overarching goals of these initiatives, as outlined by Gov. Evers, centre on enhancing economic competitiveness and ensuring that Wisconsin’s workforce is well-equipped to meet the needs of evolving industries, particularly in the face of rapid technological changes driven by automation and artificial intelligence. To this end, a Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and AI was established in August to explore future strategies aimed at aligning skills with the demands of new technologies and industries.
Overall, Wisconsin’s strategies for workforce development, as articulated by Gov. Evers, encompass a comprehensive approach targeting education, healthcare, apprenticeships, and economic investment, intended to secure a skilled workforce capable of advancing the state into the 21st-century economy.
Source: Noah Wire Services