Several Factors Contribute to Wisconsin's Worker Shortage

Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 -- 8:07 AM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Early retirements, low migration into the state and low birth rates all contribute to a worker shortage in Wisconsin.

But Department of Workforce Development Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek, on WKOW’s Capitol City Sunday, says many people are looking for work.

“We have a worker quantity challenge. And so we really have to kind of assist in making those connections with the folks that are able and ready to work in our state. So it’s incumbent on us to help make those connections between the folks that are looking for work and the folks that are hiring.”

Pechacek says many factors contribute to Wisconsin’s workforce shortage. “We have seen net zero to a loss of migration and immigration to our state. We have more folks retiring now than we did even before the pandemic. So that with our low birthrates sort of compounds this factor that we have a worker quantity challenge.”

Pechacek says many people are looking for work though, DWD’s online Job Center database currently has more than 50,000 active resumes.

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