Department of Workforce Development

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 DWD officials say outdated computer system causes massive problems.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

Wisconsin Unemployment at 6.2%

Even as unemployment improves, millions are still being affected by unemployment crisis.

$300 Unemployment Boost Excludes Thousands

A requirement for the program will bypass thousands of Wisconsinites.

Unemployment Protest Outside Sen. Ron Johnson’s Office

Unemployed workers demand congress reinstate $600 weekly assistance.

Wisconsin Getting $300 Weekly Unemployment Boost

FEMA approved the state Tuesday, but funds could take four to five weeks to reach people.

New Unemployment Aid Will Take 6 Weeks

State DWD Secretary predicts 6-8 week wait till recipients get $300 supplement.

Evers Applies for Federal Unemployment Supplement

Program provides an additional weekly $300 to unemployment insurance.

Milwaukee County Unemployment at 9.9 Percent

City of Milwaukee unemployment at 11.1 percent.

Wisconsin Applies for Lost Wages Assistance Grant​

Gov. Evers Appoints Nia Trammell and David Conway to the Dane County Circuit Court

Unemployed Struggle Without Federal Aid

In week 5 without $600 federal supplement unemployed workers call on Evers, Congress to find solution.

Many City Renters Face Evictions

Black neighborhoods hit hardest as state pandemic aid program can’t keep up.

People With Disabilities Still Waiting on Unemployment

Wisconsin residents left in limbo with dwindling bank accounts.

Wisconsin Unemployment at 7%

Service industry is beginning to recover from devastating job losses.

Wisconsin Invented Unemployment Insurance

Jobless benefits began in 1932 with $15 check. Program now crucial during pandemic.

Johnson’s Attacks on Unemployment Aid Lack Evidence

The pandemic, not unemployment insurance, is keeping people out of work.

Pandemic Aid Programs Are Failing Us

One man's story of resilience, navigating unemployment during COVID-19.

Trump Directives Fall Flat in Wisconsin

President’s executive action on unemployment and evictions cause ‘uncertainty and confusion’, Evers says

DWD Releases Information on Unemployment Data

Pandemic Still Hurting State Economy

Downturn far worse than during Great Recession. People’s fears, not shutdown orders, are driving downturn.

Legislature Must Act for Unemployed

Some have waited 15 weeks to get unemployment compensation; state law must to be reformed.

Disabled Workers Okayed for Pandemic Aid

State gets federal permission to reverse its policy. Problem arose due to Walker-era restrictions passed.

Milwaukee County Unemployment at 11.5%

City of Milwaukee unemployment at 12.8 percent.

State Law Punishes People With Disabilities

Vos-Walker law means disabled people who lose their job can’t get unemployment benefits.

Layoffs hit Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

Statement of Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa July 17, 2020

Rep. Robyn Vining Co-Sponsors Legislation to Reduce Barriers to Unemployment Insurance

Legislative Democrats Introduce Bill Package to Remove Barriers to Unemployment Insurance

Senator Erpenbach and Legislative Democrats Announce Unemployment Package

Bills would roll back barriers to UI imposed during decade of misguided anti-worker legislation

State Overpaid $21 Million for Unemployment

Audit Bureau finds unknown number of participants received incorrect unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Claims Continue At Unprecedented Rate

DWD triples workforce for unemployment insurance system in response.

Assembly GOP Pitches Unemployment Loans

Instead of convening and legislating, Republican legislators pitch a personal loan program.

Hotels, Vendors Laying Off Workers

In Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, including Miller Park and Lambeau Field.

State Unemployment Insurance System Failing Many

The pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of the current system, and left many without help.

Minority Workers Get Less Unemployment Aid?

National studies shows Black, Latino workers typically get less aid. Wisconsin has no data by race.

Unemployment Benefits Extended by 13 Weeks

Unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefits can apply for an additional 13 weeks of support.

Baldwin, Moore, Kind, Pocan Urge Trump Administration to Make Disabled Wisconsinites Eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

State Wants Pandemic Aid for Residents on Disability Insurance

State officials are seeking permission from the federal government.

Workers Concerned About Safety During Reopening

As many are called back to work, there are more questions than answers about their safety.

Eviction Ban Lifted, Here’s What Renters Should Know

Moratorium on evictions was suspended Tuesday, many landlords rushed to start evictions.

GOP, Dems Battle Over Unemployment Backlog

Democrats say Walker administration failed to update the system, now it can't handle unprecedented wave of unemployment claims.

Far More Businesses Using Work Share

Up 17-fold in state since pandemic, as companies avoid layoffs by switching workers to part-time.

Pandemic Exposes Caregiver Shortage

Care for elderly and disabled was already hard to find, the pandemic made it worse.

Amendment to help furloughed workers falls just short

Statement of Alderwoman Chantia Lewis May 8, 2020

GOP Inaction Cost Wisconsin $25 Million

Already depleted unemployment trust fund misses out on millions in federal aid.

Two-Thousand Sign onto Letter to Gov. Evers Calling for Economic Restart

14 Resources to Help You During the Pandemic

The shutdown is hurting everyone, these resources are for small businesses and residents.

Wisconsinites Who Lose Health Insurance During COVID-19 May Be Able to Enroll on HealthCare.gov or in BadgerCare

WI Congressional Delegation Backs Federal Help

All back CARES Act and Evers' disaster declaration for Wisconsin.

Johnson Leads Wisconsin Delegation Letter Supporting Major Disaster Declaration Request

State Unemployment System Overwhelmed

Callers can’t get through, 1.5 million calls last week to Department of Workforce Development.