Department of Workforce Development

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?

Wisconsin Unemployment Grew in December

Unemployment rate has fluctuated since September.

Wage Theft ‘Rampant’ in State

10% of construction workers bilked of $23,500 per year on average. Will Legislature address problem?

GOP Rejects Special Session on Unemployment

Republicans gavel in and then quickly adjourn session.

State Losing Top Health Official To Biden Administration

Andrea Palm named deputy secretary of Department of Health and Human Services.

State Starts $300 Unemployment Supplements

Unemployment insurance recipients are eligible for an additional $300 a week.

State Unemployment System ‘Very Broken’

Citizens decry delays. DWD officials say outdated computer system causes massive problems.

Rep. Stubbs Statement on 2021 State of the State

Rep. Robyn Vining Responds to Governor Evers’ State of the State Address

Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order Calling a Special Session on Unemployment Insurance Modernization

Gov. Evers Delivers 2021 State of the State Address

DWD Secretary-designee Signs Work-Share Program Waiver

State Clears Unemployment Claims Backlog

Evers promotes Amy Pechacek to secretary designee of Department of Workforce Development.

Gov. Evers Appoints Amy Pechacek as Secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

DWD Clears Wisconsin Unemployment Claims Backlog

Remaining claims within timely adjudication resolution period, UI claims older than 21 days resolved or assigned

DWD Seeks Public Input on Initial and Weekly UI Applications

Evers Reflects on Year of Pandemic, Protests

Proud of his administration’s response to COVID-19, “we turned that around a little bit.”

Wisconsin Unemployment Drops to 5%

But the state still lost thousands of jobs last month.

Evers Offers Compromise Bill on COVID-19

After meeting with Republican leaders, offers draft bill with “items on which all of us can agree.”

Unemployment System Audited After Pandemic Failures

Massive delays in claims, duplicate payments and an unreliable call center among issues found in report.

Audits Show the Need to Modernize and Improve UI System after Years of GOP Neglect

State Fights for Employees’ Wages; Bankruptcy Court Orders Golden Guernsey Dairy to Pay $1.1 Million to Past Employees

December 16, 2020

GOP Signals End of Pandemic Unemployment Waivers

Vos says waiting period and work search requirements will return next year.

DWD Releases Information on Unemployment Data

Evers Administration Continues Efforts to Increase Health Care Workforce

The Hunger Games, Wisconsin Edition

You’re on your own as pandemic rages and Republican legislators again refuse to meet.

Job Growth Down Five Months in a Row

The national unemployment rate in November was 6.7%

2020 MARKETPLACE Community Economic Development Awards recognize notable business and community leaders

WEDC provides recognition to top supporters of minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses

Extended Unemployment Payments Begin This Week

Extended Benefits payments going to those that exhausted all other forms of unemployment assistance.

Vos Pandemic Plan Sets Up Political Battle

Speaker Robin Vos releases plan and includes provisions that strip power from the governor.

State Official Promises End to Unemployment Insurance Backlog

Department of Workforce Development’s new director hopes to end backlog by late December.

DWD Launches Extended Benefit Program; Begins Accepting Applications

Assembly GOP Unveils Tough Pandemic Plan

Republicans would make state employees work in offices, force teachers into classrooms, cut state aid to non-complying schools.

Will Unemployment Backlog Be Cleared By End Of Year?

70,000 people in Wisconsin are still waiting for their unemployment to come through.

Milwaukee Unemployment Rising

The recovery is over as every part of the state is seeing unemployment increase.

October Local Employment and Unemployment Data Released

DWD Releases Information on Unemployment Data

Thousands Still Await Jobless Aid

Some 93,000 applications for pandemic aid have yet to be processed or adjudicated by state.

Wisconsin Unemployment Increased in October

Service sector lost nearly 30,000 jobs.

DWD Partners with IKEA US Community Foundation to Fund Workforce Equity Grant Program

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Last Payable Week of Extended Benefits is November 7

Milwaukee Unemployment at 8.4%

The unemployment rate for Milwaukee County is slightly lower, 7.3%.

Federal Unemployment Boost Being Paid Out

$300 weekly supplement could provide $224 million to state residents.

Wisconsin Unemployment at 5.4%

Service industry sees job gains.

Pandemic Slams State’s Working Women

Much higher unemployment than men, as many taking care of kids at home.

4 Reasons Legislature Won’t Reconvene

Haven’t met since April, won’t return this year. Republicans explain why.

99% of Unemployment Calls to DWD Unanswered

38.3 million calls regarding unemployment insurance weren't answered.

Milwaukee Unemployment Higher than National Average

County slightly higher, but city well above national average.

Evers Fires Workforce Development Secretary

Sec. Caleb Frostman asked to resign over unemployment system delays.

Gov. Evers Asks for Resignation of Workforce Development Secretary

Resignation effective immediately, DOC Deputy Secretary Pechacek to lead transition