Steve Shupe (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Series: Wisconsin's 21st-Century Workforce

Manufacturing and agriculture have historically reigned supreme in Wisconsin's economy. But automation and consolidation in those sectors, and a shifting emphasis toward service- and technology-based industries, means the nature of work is changing rapidly. As workers across the state seek to start their careers, pursue better jobs, or find themselves struggling to reap the benefits of economic growth, they're looking for new opportunities wherever they might find them, including outside Wisconsin. As demographic and workforce shifts shape the state's future, political and business leaders are looking to attract and retain workers with advanced skills and education. These efforts are related to larger forces affecting Wisconsin's future, including population decline in rural areas, the role of higher education, and how public resources are used to develop the economy.
 
Opportunities exist to improve Wisconsin's education pipeline and create a future with competitive wages, innovative industry and entrepreneurial activity.
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The Madison school district's Personalized Pathways program will allow students to pursue individual areas of interest to explore future college and career options. Madison school district Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham discusses the goals of this program.
Experts say Wisconsin's quality of life is contributing to the state's shrinking workforce and the lack of workers to replace retiring baby boomers.
As in many other places in the U.S. and around the world, Wisconsin is getting older, enough so that its aging population will have profound economic consequences.
In an economic debate that can devolve into a pitched battle over philosophers and welders, several University of Wisconsin-based researchers believe businesses, policymakers, and educators could strike a balance.
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The Wisconsin Center for Education Research is investigating the skills gap and what Wisconsin is doing to invest in educating its current and future workforce. Researcher Matthew Hora discusses these findings and what the state could be doing better.
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A report on the demography of Wisconsin's population finds that the state's workforce looks unlikely to grow. Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry discusses the long-term future of jobs in the state and the people who are seeking them.