Beer, cheese, and wide open spaces usually come to mind when outsiders think of the Badger State, but a serious look at Wisconsin employment finds a state with booming healthcare and education industries. Notable for its stable economy, the state boasts impressive economic resources that offer a wide variety of jobs and careers from Wal-Mart to the National Forest Service. With a labor force of over three million and a median family income above the national average, searching for work in Wisconsin is looking increasingly attractive to the rest of the world.
Wisconsin unemployment
Wisconsin unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) increased from October 2008 to October 2009 by 3.5% to a rate of 8.4%
[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Wisconsin Employment Opportunities
Despite its reputation as a farming state, most of Wisconsin’s populace lives in five major cities; the state capitol of Madison, Racine, Green Bay, Kenosha, and the largest city of Milwaukee. Reflecting this trend, nearly a third of the Wisconsin workforce is employed in management and professional occupations, with another quarter working in sales and office occupations. With an unemployment rate typically under the national average, Wisconsin employment offers all the benefits of a modern, competitive job economy.
Although the focus of Wisconsin employment has moved to urban centers, it is a popular international destination for tourism and outdoor recreation. These industries encourage outdoor-minded workers and grow seasonally, while remaining relatively unaffected by the recent national economic downturn. Wisconsin has managed to retain much of its natural forest growth and boasts unmatched natural scenery, from the shores of the Great Lakes to the sandstone formations of the plains. Tourists flock to Wisconsin to ski, hike, fish, and revel in the rich beauty of its National Parks.
The fastest growing areas in Wisconsin employment are education and healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that hiring in education and health-related occupations continues to grow, adding jobs at a rate of around 2.5% over the last 12 months. Led by a state of the art flagship campus in Madison, the University of Wisconsin is the state’s second largest employer and an internationally respected ‘public ivy’ research institution. The metropolitan areas of La-Crosse and Eau Claire have seen the highest growth rates, and the urban hubs of Milwaukee and Racine remain attractive to the healthcare industry.
The cities of Wisconsin offer all the job opportunities expected of cultural hubs. Noted for their growing commitment to the arts and alternative lifestyles, Wisconsin cities foster diversity and experimentation. Almost any career can find a stepping stone in the Milwaukee metropolis, from the aspiring heart surgeon to the gourmet chef. Well-respected arts institutions, symphonies, and dance companies signal that Wisconsin is poised to enter the international world of the arts as a major player.
About a fifth of the Wisconsin workforce is in manufacturing, and the state has a storied legacy of strong relationships with automobile companies. Together with neighboring Michigan, Wisconsin helped birth the American dream of the affordable car and a number of models are still built on Wisconsin soil. Wisconsin employment should benefit from President Obama’s emphasis on encouraging green growth in the car manufacturing industry.
Wisconsin Employment Resources
Local government is another area of strong growth for Wisconsin employment, and the Wisconsin government maintains a comprehensive job-search database through their website (www.wisconsin.gov) which lists governmental and private job opportunities. Prospective teachers looking to take advantage of booming local demand should contact the University of Wisconsin or search their employment webpage (http://www.wisconsin.edu/accessforyou/employ/) for opportunities. Veterans can take advantage of the state’s Department of Veteran Affairs, who offer job listings and assistance on their website (http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben_employment.asp) and maintain offices throughout the state.
Other useful resources for searching for Wisconsin employment can be found at http://wisconsin.jobing.com/default.asp, http://www.job-hunt.org/jobs/wisconsin.shtml, and the Job Center of Wisconsin (https://jobcenterofwisconsin.com/). Medical professionals looking to pursue health careers in the midst of Wisconsin’s natural beauty can opt for a rural health career at the Rural Health Careers Wisconsin website (http://www.rhcw.org/) where resumes can be exchanged and jobs posted. Job fairs regularly tour the state, actively recruiting employees, and their dates and locations can be found online (http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/jobfairs/).
Wisconsin Living Conditions
Wisconsin’s legendary hospitality and cultural heritage help make it a popular place to live as well as visit. Well known for fostering tight knit communities and welcoming ways, Wisconsin’s population has preserved many local customs reflecting their diverse traditions and customs. Whether enjoying world famous ‘fish boils’ or distinctive local cheeses, newcomers to Wisconsin employment should have little trouble making themselves at home.
With income tax rates ranging from 4.6 percent up to 6.75 percent, lower than neighboring Minnesota, Wisconsin offers a friendly economic climate. Low housing prices make it a good time to invest in Wisconsin real estate, and newcomers should find it easy to settle into Wisconsin homes. The picturesque architecture of small Wisconsin towns is widely noted, making certain villages desirable tourist destinations for day trippers and architecture buffs alike.
A state of diverse climates, Wisconsin residents enjoy the full range of all that nature has to offer. From snow in the winter to sunny summers, outdoor recreation is popular in all seasons. With teams in all major sports competitions, Wisconsin is a haven for exercise and athleticism. Putting one of the nation’s largest concentrations of shore and water to good use, water sports are particularly popular with tourists and residents alike. With so much unspoiled land, the workforce of Wisconsin employment lives and works in one of the most acclaimed natural beauty spots in the country.
Wisconsin Employment
Now may be the best time to take advantage of Wisconsin employment. Traditionally a stable economy, the state’s growth in key career areas of healthcare and education makes it an enviable workplace. The benefits of Wisconsin employment can be measured in the high standard of living and income, in the proximity to nationally renowned vacation spots, or in the rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenery. With an array of environments and opportunities there are few careers, families, and dreams that Wisconsin employment cannot accommodate.
