Mark R. Hogan: Investing in workforce of the future

Talk to business leaders throughout Wisconsin and you will hear a recurring theme: There is a real need for skilled workers to fill jobs in just about every industry and in companies of all sizes. A survey by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, for example, says 70 percent of state businesses are struggling to find qualified workers and some are delaying expansions because of the problem.

That is why workforce development is a key component of Gov. Scott Walker’s two-year budget proposal and why the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., along with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and other state agencies, is aggressively developing initiatives to meet the workforce demands of today – and tomorrow.

Gov. Walker’s budget includes $140 million for workforce development during the next two years. That is on top of the $212 million the state has invested during the last four years in workforce readiness.

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