Department of Workforce Development

State’s Hot Job Market Seeks College Grads

MATC students being courted before they graduate.

Wisconsin Employment Higher Than Before Pandemic

But latest jobs report shows state has fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic.

Making child care sustainable

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant will test child care solutions

Room to grow

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant to allow YMCA to expand child care and youth programming in Green County

Gov. Evers Announces $1 Million in Funding for Teacher Training and Recruitment

Assembly Will Vote On Unemployment, Medicaid Bills

Several bills would remake unemployment system, restrict access to Medicaid.

High school diploma opens opportunities

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant project aims to help residents earn a high school degree

Applications open February 22 for second round of Workforce Innovation Grants

Up to $40.5 million in grants available to promote local and regional solutions to workforce challenges

Workforce Innovation Grant helps youth discover career path

Collaboration between schools, employers and Boys & Girls Clubs aims to positively engage teens in the workforce

New skills open up manufacturing opportunities

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant project aims to help workers get the skills needed to thrive in advanced manufacturing

Creating a workforce to build healthier communities

With help from Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant, UW-Eau Claire, Mayo Clinic, and others hope to train new generation of health care workers, teachers

Child care workers keep economy moving

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant to help Madison Area Technical College train workers and assess child care needs

Homegrown entrepreneurs

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant will help Kenosha create the next generation of diverse business owners

Building careers while incarcerated

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant will bring new educational opportunities, workforce support to incarcerated individuals

Credits toward careers

Wisconsin’s Workforce Innovation Grant will allow Sauk Prairie schools to train students for careers, help workers upskill and keep key industries moving forward

DWD Upgrade Enables Online Filing for Civil Rights Complaints

State Jobless Rate Hits Record Low

Unemployment rate of 2.8% in December, with more employed than before pandemic.

New Election Commission Appointed

Three new commissioners likely first task: ruling on challenges to mayoral signatures.

Labor Shortage Transforming State Workforce

‘Evolve or die,’ warns a business advisor. Both employers and employees will be affected.

MATC Broadens Access to College in Milwaukee

Education can unlock opportunities blocked by racial, economic inequality.

State Unemployment Hits Three-Year Low

New report shows the unemployment rate fell to 3% in November.

Gov. Evers: Wisconsin’s Unemployment Rate Ties All-Time Record Low

Wisconsin's unemployment rate lowest it's been since November 2018 at 3 percent

Evers Awards $60 Million to Target Worker Shortage

Grants for job training, expanding health care workforce and skills training for prisoners.

Gov. Evers Announces Nearly $60 Million in Projects Aimed at Developing Long-Term Solutions to State’s Workforce Challenges

12 regional projects through Workforce Innovation Grants will help bolster Wisconsin workforce in counties across the state

Nonprofit Diversifying Construction, Manufacturing Trades

WRTP BIG STEP is building a pipeline for women and people of color into the trades.

Will Martin Announces Candidacy for Lt. Governor of Wisconsin

Jobs Up, Joblessness Down Last Month

State sees modest improvement in October numbers with a continuing shortage of workers.

Gov. Evers, DWD Announce $20 Million in Workforce Advancement Initiative Grants to 11 Regions in Wisconsin

Grants will help reduce barriers to employment for more than 2,300 Wisconsinites to get back to work

Wisconsin’s Jobless Rate Remains at 3.9%

Job gains were offset by job losses in September.

Can State Fix Problems Underlying the Labor Shortage?

Evers administration putting $130 million into addressing issues contributing to labor shortage.

State Modernizing Unemployment System

State spending $16.5 million to fix system after it was overwhelmed by pandemic unemployment.

Here’s Help If You Lost Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

State and local resources to get help, find jobs.

State Legislation Classifies Rideshare, Delivery Drivers as Independent Contractors

Bills could also prevent drivers from accessing unemployment or workers compensation.

Suit Seeks To End Ban on Jobless Pay for Disabled

Class-action claim charges 2013 state law violates U.S. Constitution.

6 Ways to Measure State of Workers

The data shows some surprising improvements in Wisconsin employment picture.

Hospitals Struggle With Shortage of Nurses

Offering bonuses, hiring temps as nurses ‘run ragged.”

State Businesses Offering Worker Incentives

Uline offers new workers year-end bonus of $8,000. Others offer increased pay, flexible work conditions.

AG Kaul Announces Over $650,000 Settlement with SEMCO, Inc.

August 19, 2021

Southeastern Wisconsin Has Teacher Shortage

There aren't enough graduates in the region to fill all the openings.

Workforce Investments Will Support Economic Recovery

Gov. Evers Recently Announced $130 million investment into workforce development.

‘We Aren’t Lazy People’

Rejoining workforce isn’t easy for some who lost jobs due to COVID-19.

State Labor Market Presents New Challenges

There's no worker shortage and many jobs' wages are too low, economists say.

AG Kaul Takes Action on Open Housing Cases

Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council Announces Membership, Sets Ambitious Goals

Evers Tinkers With Tax Cut

Okays $2 billion state income tax cut but delays when it goes into effect.

Johnson, GOP Congressmen Want Answers on Unemployment Fraud

Evers asked to respond to report that states vulnerable to ‘massive’ Nigerian fraud scheme.

GOP Legislators Approve $1.5 Billion Construction Budget

$1 billion less than Evers budget for state, UW System projects.

Why Is There A Worker Shortage?

Employers disagree, but big decline in child care centers could be a key issue.

First State Budget Veto In 90 Years?

Tony Evers threatens to become first governor since 1931 to veto entire budget.

DWD Seeks Input on Draft Request for Proposals

Draft will be used to contract for Unemployment Insurance System Modernization Project

GOP Lawmakers Reject Unemployment System Improvements

Republicans in State Legislature vote down $15 million to fix unemployment system.

Employment, Unemployment Both Rising

In April, number of people in state working rose by 7,100 even as unemployment rate rose.

Legislators Reinstate Work Search Rule

On party line vote Republicans add work search requirement for those getting unemployment benefits.

BLS Data: Wisconsin Adds 9,300 Total Non-Farm, 8,200 Private-Sector Jobs in April

Work Search Requirement for Unemployment Benefits – How to Comply

GOP Legislators Target Jobless Pay

Bill restores work-search requirement, ends supplemental pandemic aid to unemployed.

Marklein, Vos Author Workforce Recovery Legislation

Bill to encourage individuals to return-to-work amid massive worker shortage

State Bolsters Apprenticeship Program

DWD using federal grant to grow program, help address state’s shortage of skilled workers.

DWD Announces a New Resource for Wisconsinites: Apprenticeship Navigators

DWD Announces First Recipients of New Workforce Equity Grants

Grants are funded through a donation from the IKEA U.S. Community Foundation

Eligibility Expanded for Federal Unemployment Assistance

Biden administration releases new guidelines making previously denied applicants eligible for up to 79 weeks of unemployment.

Gov. Evers Acts on Five Bills

Wisconsin Unemployment at 3.8%

In March 2020 unemployment was 3.2%.

State Demands Return of Some Unemployment Benefits

Letters cite “overpayment” by state. One Appleton family must pay pack $13,000.

Legislators Resist Plans to Help Workers

GOP sniping at Evers plans for workforce training, minimum wage hike, funding to fix UI system.

DWD Reports Fake Unemployment Insurance Scam

Scammers use phishing emails and fake social media pages to steal personal information.

DWD Sees Surge in Fraudulent Activity

Adapting to Life During a Pandemic

One year in, five Wisconsinites talk about how they got through a tumultuous year.

State Launching $300 Unemployment Supplement

In the coming months three more unemployment assistance programs will be available.

Republicans Reject Evers Entire Capital Budget

But plan could be revisited later in the budget process.

January Local Employment and Unemployment Data Released

DWD releases 2021 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Report

1-Week Waiting Period Back for Jobless Benefits

Previous waiver signed into law by Gov. Evers has expired. Will Legislature act?

Unemployment Aid Coming to State

Federal stimulus extends unemployment benefits to September, ups number of weeks recipients can get aid.

State Unemployment Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

The state's unemployment rate in January was 3.8%.

BLS Data: Wisconsin Adds 11,100 Total Non-Farm Jobs in January; Unemployment Rate Declined to 3.8 Percent

DWD begins issuing PEUC extension payments

Joint Task Force on Payroll Fraud and Worker Misclassification Submits Annual Report to Governor

Let’s Stop the Blame Game

Problems with the unemployment system are a bipartisan failure. And need a bipartisan solution.

Work-Share Program Surges During Pandemic

Struggling businesses can keep employees on part time and lost wages recouped through state unemployment system.

Evers Signs Bill on Unemployment System

Upgrading system and waiving waiting period for unemployment benefits.

Legislature Okays Unemployment System Upgrades

Bill also includes COVID-19 legal immunity for businesses.

Evers’ Capital Budget Spends $2.4 Billion

More than $1 billion for UW System buildings and funds for Milwaukee state office building.

New Hurdle for Those Seeking Unemployment Aid

Federal bill signed in December has unexpected requirements, state DWD official says.

DSPS Budget Lowers Licensing Fees, Invests in Veterans, Fire Prevention, Clean Water, and Efforts to Curb Opioid Epidemic

Senator Agard Votes to Start Modernization of the Unemployment System

The State Senate met to take first steps to upgrade the unemployment system shortcomings after nearly a year of issues.

Legislators Advance Unemployment Fix, COVID-19 Deal

But Republicans won’t pay for new computer system Evers says is needed.

Republicans continue to leave those on Unemployment out in the cold:

Even as some of them voted to give their own businesses a tax break

Gov. Evers Announces Badger Bounceback Budget Investments to Support Small Business, Kickstart Innovation

Governor proposes $200 million to assist small businesses in recovering from COVID-19 pandemic

AG Kaul, DWD Announce Lawsuit Against SEMCO, Inc. for Unpaid Wages, Benefits Totaling $682,864.90

February 8, 2021

Wisconsin Startup Coalition Announces 2021 Policy Recommendations

Investment in Wisconsin’s Innovation Ecosystem will accelerate the State’s economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic

Work Search Waiver for Unemployment Continues

DWD still not requiring work search for unemployment insurance claims.

Evers Wants Unemployment Insurance Reforms

GOP controlled legislature refuses to take up reform bills.

Gov. Evers to Legislature on Modernizing UI System: “I don’t care who gets the credit, I just want to get it done.”

Legislature yet to take action on governor’s special session to modernize unemployment system

Evers Names 30 Equity Council Members

Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion appointees include leaders from nonprofits, tribes, churches, community groups.

State Call Center Confuses Unemployed

Jobless people say DWD call center gives incorrect, contradictory information.

Unemployment Rises in Milwaukee

Milwaukee's unemployment rate is still above the national average.

DWD Wants A Modernized Unemployment System

Secretary was in "complete shock" the first time she saw the antiquated systems.

Update: The CDC eviction moratorium that was originally extended until January 31, 2021 is now extended through March 31, 2021

When Will Unemployment Benefits Arrive?

Federal pandemic package includes 11 weeks of aid, but when will state DWD process them?