Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Oshkosh—Top officials from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) will be in Oshkosh Tuesday, May 4, to meet with the operators of various DWD programs, local staff, and public and private sector partners.

The stop is one of 14 statewide visits that officials have participated in over the next several months.  The visits will introduce local officials and DWD regional staff to members of the DWD executive and senior management team, a number of whom have recently joined the department.

The outreach visits are part of the agency’s efforts to bolster partnerships and communication between DWD and those who deliver its services at the local level.

DWD senior staff will meet with local staff and hold discussions with public and private sector partners about ideas for improving programs.  During the Oshkosh visit, state officials will tour the Oshkosh Area Workforce Development Center and Fox Valley Technical College, and attend meetings with job center partners.

"By traveling throughout the state to make area visits, we are reaching out to our partners.  This is a way for us to promote trust and teamwork by welcoming employee ideas, and receiving feedback," said DWD Secretary, Linda Stewart.

"We want to expand and refine our collaborative partnerships to increase the quality and quantity of jobs to meet employer needs for a skilled workforce and help job seekers identify career opportunities."

There are 76 job centers throughout the state and two are under development. Wisconsin job centers are partnerships between various organizations that offer access to employment, education and training assistance to employers and job seekers under one roof.

"Our one-stop job centers are the delivery vehicle for workforce development services in Wisconsin, benefiting all of Wisconsin’s job seekers, employers and taxpayers," said Stewart.

"We need to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the employers and employees.  The job centers are key players in developing our present and future workforce, and they need strong support from the state level."

"It is our goal to build and maintain a world-class workforce and work environment through effective partnerships," said Stewart.  "By providing a system of employment-focused programs and services, we are enabling individuals and employers to fully participate in Wisconsin’s economy."

Among the most visible DWD programs are: youth apprenticeship, adult apprenticeship, child support, the Governor’s Fatherhood Initiative, food stamps, Job Centers, JobNet, worker’s compensation, labor market information, labor standards, school-to-work, unemployment insurance, vocational rehabilitation, W-2, and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

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