Letter: Governor Should Use State Budget, ARPA Funds to Help Address Worker Shortage
MADISON- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber and manufacturer’s association – and a coalition of business groups sent a letter to Gov. Evers urging him to launch a talent attraction campaign aimed at addressing Wisconsin’s workforce shortage. The letter calls on the governor to utilize $3 million in funds from the Wisconsin State Budget and additional money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
WMC recommended the talent attraction campaign be modeled after the campaign launched in 2018 by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The talent attraction campaign started in 2018 by WEDC helped share with the rest of the country that Wisconsin is a great place to grow, learn and thrive.
In part the letter reads:
“Employers in Wisconsin have severe worker shortages and an inability to fill key positions. According to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s (WMC) most recent Wisconsin Employer Survey conducted in June of this year, the biggest challenge facing Wisconsin employers is the workforce shortage, with 86% of employers indicating that they are struggling to hire workers. Moreover, 72% of these employers responded that the workforce shortage is the top public policy issue facing Wisconsin.
“Employers throughout the state share a strong desire to have a coordinated campaign to attract new workers to Wisconsin. In WMC’s recent Wisconsin Employer Survey, 73% of employers think the state should fund a talent attraction campaign. These employers understand that individual talent recruitment programs can be difficult and have little impact, but partnerships with regional and statewide initiatives can bring the next generation of talent to their businesses.”
A talent attraction campaign would be a long-term solution to addressing Wisconsin’s workforce shortage. If not addressed, the workforce shortage will continue to create supply chain disruptions and cause permanent damage to thousands of Wisconsin businesses and the economy.
