Thousands of manufacturing jobs unfilled due to lack of skilled workers
(Madison) -- In response to thousands of manufacturing jobs that have gone unfilled due to a lack of skilled workers, State Senators Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) called on Assembly leaders to pass Senate Bill 40 that would increase funding for the teaching of advanced manufacturing skills at state technical colleges.
“This bill passed the Senate in October with an overwhelming bipartisan majority, and the Assembly hasn’t even assigned it to a committee yet,” Lassa said. “Assembly leaders need to show a greater sense of urgency about the fact that we have a quarter million unemployed people in this state while good-paying manufacturing jobs are going unfilled.”
Manufacturers have said that the lack of skilled workers at times has made it difficult to expand here in Wisconsin and in some cases employers have said they had to move jobs out of state because they were unable to find skilled workers here.
“Wisconsin has lost over 27,000 jobs and recently we have lost thousands of jobs at a time when most other states are adding them,” said Hansen, the bill’s co-author. “We have an opportunity to move people into good paying manufacturing jobs simply by getting them the training they need. It’s a no brainer.”
The Wisconsin Technical College Advanced Manufacturing Grants program provides custom job skills training, allowing dozens of Wisconsin manufacturers to expand their operations and retain and create good-paying jobs.
“SB 40 will help existing employers grow and expand, and will also attract new employers to our state,” Lassa said. “The Advanced Manufacturing Training Grant program is highly successful and popular with businesses. The Assembly needs to schedule this bill before time runs out in this Legislative session.”
SB-40 passed the State Senate on October 20, 2011 by a vote of 32-1.
“Given the bill’s strong bi-partisan support, the lack of certainty surrounding the remainder of the legislative session and the need to create jobs, passing this legislation should be a top priority,” said Hansen.