State makes progress on some workforce goals, deems others 'unreachable'

25 Oct 2017


Wisconsin state government has been bracing for the looming workforce crisis for years.

"We've had quite a lot of warning for this," said Dennis Winters, chief economist for the Department of Workforce Development. "I published on this back in 2000. We had two recessions through there that let some of the pressure out of the pot."

The state has implemented a number of strategies — such as the Fast Forward worker training grant program, which will grow to a $76.9 million total investment since 2013 in the budget headed for Gov. Scott Walker's desk this week.

But the Walker administration has deemed "unachievable" some strategies recommended by the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment, specifically encouraging skilled college graduates to stay in or relocate to Wisconsin by offering tax credits for student loan forgiveness and moving costs.

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