Minority unemployment task force focuses on Milwaukee area

By Reggie Newson, DWD Secretary

Governor Walker recently created a new task force that will develop initiatives to address minority unemployment in metro Milwaukee.

We are committed to doing everything possible to promote economic growth in Milwaukee and connect unemployed residents, particularly black males, with job opportunities. This task force will concentrate on strategies to advance this commitment and help break the longstanding problem of minority unemployment in metro Milwaukee.

The Governor's Task Force on Minority Unemployment is co-chaired by Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and state Representative Elizabeth Coggs. The panel will review workforce training programs in the Milwaukee area, identify best practices, and recommend a skills pipeline that will effectively prepare and connect unemployed minorities with employment opportunities.

A 2010 study by Dr. Marc Levine of UW-Milwaukee indicated that only 44.7 percent of black males age 16–64 were currently employed in the Milwaukee area. For the benefit of Milwaukee and our state, we must and will do better.

Sincerely,

Reggie Newson
Secretary

JobCenterofWisconsin.com shows dramatic increase in job postings

By Jonathan Barry, DWD Deputy Secretary

There has been a dramatic increase in job orders posted statewide on DWD's online job site, JobCenterofWisconsin.com. The orders for one recent week doubled the total for the same week in 2011 and tripled the tally from the same period in 2010.

This positive sign underscores Governor Walker's Open for Business strategy to encourage job growth and economic expansion. In addition, connecting jobseekers to jobs is a major goal of DWD's Strategic Plan. We've seen the positive results with almost 18,000 private-sector jobs created in the first two months of the year.

As the state's premier labor exchange, JobCenterofWisconsin.com receives thousands of job openings from employers around the state each week. The number of jobs posted has increased dramatically from 2010 to 2011 and is poised for another year of significant growth.

More than 2,500 job orders were placed in one week at the beginning of April. That compares to 1,244 the same week a year ago and 723 in 2010. As of mid-April, nearly 37,200 job openings were posted on the site. We look forward to implementing additional enhancements to the site that will promote even greater use of this free resource that’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

W3 links Unemployment Insurance claimants with real work experience

By Georgia Maxwell, DWD Executive Assistant

Wisconsin Worker's Win web page has been developed to answer frequently asked questions regarding the new Wisconsin Workers Win (W3) pilot program. The initiative was created last month when Governor Walker signed the "Wisconsin Wins" legislation.

We are developing and implementing W3 program specifics as quickly as possible as a result of the interest shown by employers and dislocated workers. The web page, accessible directly from DWD's homepage, provides a program overview and addresses frequently asked questions about eligibility and other W3 components. It also provides employers and eligible UI claimants the ability to submit their contact information for possible program participation.

The agency expects to have the administrative structure in place to start enrolling employers and UI claimants in June 2012. Stay tuned for more details, which will be released in the near future.

Economic growth meandering, but still headed upward

By Dennis Winters, Chief - Office of Economic Advisors

March seasonally adjusted US jobs numbers came in well short of expectations and desires. Total nonfarm jobs increased 120,000, with private sector jobs barely higher, at 121,000. The consensus estimates were in the 180,000 to 240,000 range. We need consistent gains significantly above 200,000 to push solid, sustained economic growth.

There was some good news within the sector breakdowns, however. Goods-producing jobs rose a moderately strong 31,000, with manufacturing up 37,000 but construction down 7,000. Average hourly earnings showed a 0.2 percent increase, a fair number. The average workweek was essentially unchanged at 34.5 hours per week. The unemployment rate ticked down a tenth to 8.2 percent, but this was entirely due to people dropping out of the labor force.

The dip in the three-month jobs trend gives us pause in the momentum of our outlook, but other indicators remain healthy:

• The ISM manufacturers' index ticked up a full point to 53.4 (greater than 50 means growth).
• The ISM non-manufacturing index dropped a bit to a still healthy 56.0.
• February factory orders increased 1.3 percent on the strength of durable goods.
• Unfilled orders rose and the inventory-to-stock ratio remains lean at 1.33.

In summary, the economy continues to click along, but rather languorously. We are seeing small gains in income. Consumption is creeping higher. Interest rates are off their lows, but are not expected to rise far or fast. The Fed continues to pledge low interest rates through 2013.

Career Expo pairs Milwaukee area manufacturers with work-ready job seekers

Plans are under way for a major recruitment event that will connect Milwaukee area manufacturing employers with available openings to job seekers who have demonstrated they are work-ready. The 2012 Milwaukee Manufacturing Career Expo will take place from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, at the State Fair Park Exposition Center in West Allis.

To participate in the career expo, manufacturing employers need to have job openings to fill and must provide DWD with information about the number of openings, titles, pay range and other criteria. DWD will track this information and follow up with employers after the event to determine the number of positions that ultimately were filled as a result of connections made at the event.

Participating job seekers will need to complete steps before they receive an entry "ticket" to the event as well. They will need to meet in advance with DWD or partnering agency staff and demonstrate that they:

• Completed one-on-one counseling that criminal background checks and the ability to pass a drug screen will likely be components of any job offer.
• Have a current, updated and professional resume and cover letter.
• Have defined interests or career goals.
• Can articulate qualifications and skills related to potential job openings.
• Do not have significant barriers to employment.

As part of its ongoing outreach to employers, DWD has launched WisconsinCareerExpo.com to provide more information and share updates on the planned event. DWD is finalizing its steps to prepare potential employees (see above) and will reach out to those individuals with additional details, which also will be posted on JobCenterofWisconsin.com.

Secretary Newson announces members of Minority Unemployment Task Force

DWD Secretary Newson recently announced the membership list for the Governor's Task Force on Minority Unemployment, which will develop strategies to reduce minority unemployment in the Milwaukee area.

In addition to co-chairs, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and state Representative Elizabeth Coggs, a Milwaukee Democrat, George Randall, former president of the Private Industry Council will serve as vice chair. Panel membership includes:

• State Representatives Jason Fields, a Milwaukee Democrat, and Mark Honadel, a South Milwaukee Republican.
• Governor Walker's Cabinet members, including Secretary Newson, DCF Secretary Eloise Anderson and Wyman Winston, WHEDA Executive Director.
• Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, Senior Vice President, Mission Services, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago.
• Earl Buford, President & CEO, Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/BIG STEP.
• Kathryn Dunn, Vice President, Community Investment, Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
• Richard Harris, Executive Director, Vision Beyond Bars, Madison.
• Scott Jansen, Director, Milwaukee Talent Dividend, Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), and Chair of Milwaukee Bradley Technical High School Commission.
• Shelley Jurewicz, Vice President for Economic Development, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
• David Karst, Vice President, Human Resources, Buy Seasons, New Berlin.
• Tony Kearney, Project Manager, Northcott Neighborhood House, Milwaukee.
• Tina Koehn, Vice President, Administration, United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), Inc.
• Sean McDowell, President, McDowell Construction, Milwaukee.
• Dawn Pratt, Human Resources Manager, Payne and Dolan, Inc.
• Hattie Daniels-Rush, Program Director, Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ, and Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee.
• Don Sykes, President & CEO, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board.
• Charles Vang, President, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.
  

Unemployment rate decrease brings changes to federal Extended Benefits eligibility

DWD notified 7,761 Wisconsin individuals collecting Unemployment Insurance under the federal Extended Benefits (EB) program that the program was ending after April 7 due to the continued improvement in the state's unemployment rate.

The state's three-month average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.0 percent in February, meaning Wisconsin no longer meets the federally-required threshold for the 13-week EB program. The last payable week of EB in Wisconsin ended April 7.

The maximum eligibility period for UI benefits in Wisconsin will be 73 weeks. The prior total was 86 weeks.

UI claimants with questions are encouraged to visit the UI website at http://unemployment.wi.gov or call 1-800-UC CLAIM.

Fourteen Wisconsin employers win Corporate Safety Awards for 2011

Fourteen Wisconsin employers received 2011 Corporate Safety Awards at the 70th Annual Wisconsin Safety and Health Conference in Wisconsin Dells. The awards are annually co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Safety Council and DWD.

"I congratulate the 14 award-winning companies," said DWD Secretary Newson. "Safety in the workplace remains a strong priority, and these award winners demonstrate by example that successful enterprises have safety as part of their corporate culture."

The Wisconsin Safety Council, an educational division of Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce, has partnered with DWD for a number of years to sponsor the awards. This year's winners include:

• Campbell Soup Supply Co., LLC, Milwaukee
• Colony Brands, Inc., Monroe
• Dillman Equipment, a division of Astec, Inc., Prairie du Chien
• GE Healthcare, Madison
• Georgia Pacific Green Bay Broadway, Green Bay
• J.F. Ahern Co., Fond du Lac
• MAG – IAS, LLC, Fond du Lac
• Phillips Medical, New Richmond
• Phillips Plastics Corporation - Operations Center, Eau Claire
• RGL Specialty Services, LLC, Green Bay
• Scheck Mechanical Wisconsin Corporation, Kaukauna
• Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Inc., Green Bay
• Viking Gas Transmission, Chippewa Falls/Osceola
• WE Energies, Milwaukee

Winners were selected by an independent panel of safety, health, and human resource professionals. A total of 166 companies submitted applications.

Social media sites:

On the web: JobCenterOfWisconsin.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jobcenterofwisconsin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JobCenterWI
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/wiworkforce

Secretary's Office takes message on the road

• Mar. 27, Secretary Newson, Paul Jadin, CEO of WEDC and Tim Sullivan, special consultant for business and workforce development met with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board. Secretary Newson appeared in several Madison and Milwaukee talk radio shows to promote economic progress under the Governor's leadership.
• Apr. 3, Secretary Newson and Deputy Secretary Barry attended a Madison College Centennial President's Table Luncheon. Apr. 5, Secretary Newson joined DCF Secretary Anderson and WHEDA Director Winston for the "Evening Rush" radio interview on WMCS, Milwaukee.
• Apr. 17, Secretary Newson, Deputy Secretary Barry, and Executive Assistant Maxwell attended the WWDA Strategic Planning Session, Madison; Secretary Newson presented safety awards at the Wisconsin Safety and Health Conference, Wisconsin Dells.

In the News:

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