Business group wants to draw more workers to Wisconsin with ad campaign, financial incentives
MADISON – The state’s largest business lobbying group is recommending a wide-ranging strategy to boost Wisconsin’s economy and draw more workers here.
A report being released Friday by the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Foundation shows the group is taking a mostly pragmatic approach at a time of divided government. Its recommendations include expanding youth apprenticeship programs and making transportation and housing more widely available so lower-income workers have a shot at getting better jobs.
But some of the group’s ideas could have trouble gaining traction. For instance, it wants taxpayers to continue to fund ads in other states to attract workers to Wisconsin. That program drew opposition from Democrats when it was started last year when Republican Scott Walker was governor.
The $50,000 report, prepared for WMC's foundation by consultant Economic Leadership of North Carolina, notes the national economy has been expanding for years but warns a worker shortage is looming in Wisconsin.
"Business leaders understand that the tight labor market and workplace skill gaps will stifle future economic growth unless these issues are addressed in an aggressive manner and addressed soon," the report says.
Kurt Bauer, the president and CEO of WMC and chairman of its foundation, said making sure the state has enough properly trained workers is a pressing issue.
“My members say what we need more than anything, what’s critical for the economy, is workforce development," he said Thursday.
"The joke is it’s hard to get people to move here, but once they're here it’s hard to get them to leave," he said. "So if we just get them here, I think we can hold them."
The group wants state officials to consider providing financial incentives for high-demand workers. Those could come in the form of tax credits or programs aimed at reducing college debt, Bauer said.
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The report comes as Republicans who control the Legislature consider the state budget introduced last month by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Lawmakers have said they plan to throw out much of Evers’ budget.
Evers said during last year’s campaign he wanted to replace the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. with a traditional state agency, but he didn’t include such an overhaul in his budget.
The two parties have also clashed over the Walker-era deal to provide up to $4 billion in public funding to Foxconn Technology Group for a proposed plant in Racine County.
WMC’s report doesn’t focus on those issues and instead identifies areas where there could be bipartisan agreement.
But the current political dynamic wasn't the main driver of why the report was written as it was, Bauer said. He noted work on the report started well before the outcome of last year's election was known.
"We just think that's a smart approach to this," he said.
Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff noted WMC's report backs some of the issues the governor has made a priority.
"The governor’s budget makes a $1.4 billion investment in K-12 public education, as well as substantial investments in higher education, transportation infrastructure, and economic development," she said in a statement.
"It’s great to hear that Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce also supports so many of these good, bipartisan solutions. We hope Republicans in the Legislature will work with us to pass a bipartisan budget informed by the will of the people."
The report recommends:
- Increasing public funding for efforts to bring more workers to Wisconsin. Bauer said the $6.8 million ad campaign launched under Walker was a "good start" that needs to be increased.
- Considering providing subsidies to businesses that have paid internships for college students.
- Enrolling more inmates in work readiness programs as they near their release date. The report also backs building more programs to connect employers with offenders who have served their sentences.
- Gearing efforts to attract workers to all types of people, from entry-level workers to those who are highly trained.
- Making youth apprenticeships available to students in seventh grade and above. Now, the apprenticeships are available for high school juniors and seniors. Walker touted the expansion of the program to middle-schoolers in his campaign last year.
- Establishing more career counselors in middle schools and high schools.
- Providing more transportation, housing and child care for workers so they can more easily advance their careers.
- Expanding efforts to make Wisconsin more welcoming to immigrants.
Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.