February 10, 2012
Filling the Skills Gap in
Wisconsin
As the Legislature looks at
more ideas to grow jobs in a
state traditionally known
for manufacturing and
agriculture, it is clear we
are heading in the right
direction. Wisconsin’s
economy is on the upswing,
and Wisconsin’s fiscal
condition has significantly
improved. The unemployment
rate is falling, and last
year, Wisconsin gained a net
total of more than 21,000
jobs. But we know there is
still much work to be done
to improve those numbers.
Currently, we are hard at
work on a number of items to
help grow jobs in our
state. One consistent
message from companies and
small businesses is about
the skills gap that exists
between available jobs and
qualified workers. While
there are job openings
available across the state,
it can be difficult for companies to find qualified
workers with the skills
necessary to fill those
positions.
As a solution to this
problem, Senate Bill 352,
the ‘Wisconsin Wins’ bill,
has been introduced and is
moving through the
legislative process. Senate
Bill 352 requires the state
to administer a pilot
program offering
occupational training to
unemployment insurance (UI)
claimants for a six-week
period. For an employer to
participate in the program,
they must affirm it has one
job opening for each
training participant that it
seeks in a position that a
successful participant would
potentially qualify to
fill. The bill allows those
on UI to get the training they
need for employment, while
also allowing employers to
work with and train a
potential job candidate.
Another factor in the skills
gap is the high unemployment
rate of our veterans. With
the veteran’s unemployment
rate in Wisconsin almost
double the statewide
average, steps are being
taken to help our veterans
attain employment. Last
month, the Senate passed
Senate Bill 338, which
establishes a program under
which licensing agencies may
waive various fees for
qualified veterans who are
applying for professional
and occupational licenses.
The intent is to honor our
veterans by helping them
gain professional
advancement and
entrepreneurship.
A similar bill, Senate Bill
357, would allow a veteran’s
military education and
training to count towards
satisfying training or other
requirements for certain
professions when the
veteran’s military training
substantially relates to the
professional training. It
only makes sense that
veterans, who give years of
their time for our country,
be allowed to use that time
toward a career path.
In further addressing the
skills gap, Governor Walker
recently introduced a
Wisconsin Working agenda.
The agenda concentrates both
on connecting businesses
with job seekers and
equipping job seekers with
the skills they need to
succeed. The plan is based
on recommendations from a
special sub-cabinet
workgroup that recommended a
series of steps meant to
address the skills gap and
get unemployed workers back
on the job faster.
In addition, the Governor
recently created the College
and Workforce Readiness
Council, which will work to
improve student readiness
for college and careers
through a variety of
measures, including
designing shorter and less
costly degree programs aimed
at filling high-need
positions. The Council will
also work to expand dual
enrollment and dual credit
opportunities for high
school students, allowing
them to earn college and
workforce training credits
while in high school.
The overall goal of these
plans by the Legislature and
Governor is to connect
workers to employers and
create incentives for
employers to take on
unemployed workers for job
training. While Wisconsin’s
employment rate is better
than the nation’s, we want
to ensure that everyone
looking for a job is set up
for success. These measures
should enhance our economy
by providing the necessary
skills to those searching
for employment and
connecting them to jobs
where they can most
succeed.
-30-
Sen. Kedzie can be
reached in Madison at P.O.
Box 7882, Madison, WI
53707-7882 or by calling
toll-free 1 (800) 578-1457.
He may be reached in the
district at (262) 742-2025
or on-line at
www.senatorkedzie.com
