Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Tommy G. Thompson
Governor
State of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release -- June 12, 1998
Bruce Hagen, Workforce Development, (608) 266-7552
Phil Albert, Commerce Department, (608) 267-0770

WORKFORCE FORUMS TO FOCUS ON LABOR SHORTAGES
Sessions scheduled for Milwaukee, Green Bay, Rice Lake, and Reedsburg

MADISON -- Governor Tommy G. Thompson said today he was convening Governor’s Workforce Forums around the state this summer to help businesses and communities recruit workers in the tightest labor market since World War 2.

With the state’s unemployment rate currently at 2.4 per cent and at the lowest level on record, the governor said more employers are experiencing difficulties in recruiting people with specific skills or adequate numbers of new workers to enable the businesses to expand.

"Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is the lowest in history, more of our people are working than ever before, our economy is the envy of the nation," Gov. Thompson said. "Our challenge now is to make certain employers have the skilled workers they need to expand."

The Forums will help state government identify and clarify responsibilities for meeting skill- and labor-supply mismatches, and to share successful ideas. Employers, workers, educators, elected officials and others are invited.

Linda Stewart, Secretary of the State Department of Workforce Development, and William McCoshen, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, are co-chairs for the Forums. Other sponsors are the Department of Revenue, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board, the University of Wisconsin System, and Forward Wisconsin.

Written comments may be addressed to Workforce Forum, c/o either Secretary Linda Stewart, DWD, P.O. Box 7946, Madison, WI 53707, or Secretary William McCoshen, Commerce Department, 201 W. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53702.

All Forums will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 11:45 a.m. The dates and locations are:

June 23, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College Teleconference Center, Room S-120, 700 W. State St.

June 30, Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Center for Business and Industry, Room C231, 2740 W. Mason St.

July 8, Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Conference Center, 1900 College Dr.

July 15, Reedsburg, MATC, Room 13, 300 Alexander Ave.

 

Room 115 East, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7863, Madison, Wisconsin 53707
(608) 266-1212 FAX (608) 267-8983

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