Wisconsin down to 44th in job creation, still dead last in Midwest

MADISON – New federal figures released today show Wisconsin has fallen to 44^th in the nation in private-sector job creation, including dead last in the Midwest. These figures cover the one-year period from September 2011 to September 2012 and come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).

According to the QCEW, Wisconsin’s average private-sector weekly wages fell 2.16 percent, which ranks the state ranks 44^th in the country using that measurement over this same period. Wisconsin also ranks 44^th in the nation in total job creation from January 2011 to January 2013, according to recently revised Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Benchmarked monthly numbers.

In response to today’s report, Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) released the following statement:

“Today’s report is yet more evidence that Wisconsin’s middle-class families continue to struggle. Our citizens are not satisfied with being 44^th in the nation in anything, especially when it comes to our economic well-being.

“As a legislator I wake up every day trying to find ways we can help put people back to work quickly. But Gov. Walker’s budget doesn’t do nearly enough to reinvest in key economic development initiatives – like job training – that he subjected to massive cuts in his last budget.

“Instead the governor’s budget focuses on letting predatory rent-to-own companies charge higher interest rates with no oversight, selling state buildings and highways without bids and allowing for the sale of state land to foreign entities. I don’t see how any of these policies will create jobs.

“As recently as yesterday the governor’s Workforce Development Secretary tried to deny that Wisconsin is lagging so far behind on jobs. Instead of trying to rewrite jobs numbers – while we’re clearly near the bottom – the governor and Secretary Newson should be focused on developing world-class job training that will benefit employers and employees alike.

“We need a true middle-class budget that reinvests in job training and public education. I stand ready to work with the governor on fixing his budget so we can help put more people to work and put more money in people’s pockets. Because clearly the policies he put forward over the past two years aren’t working.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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