Ideas

Gov. Scott Walker recently unveiled a $100 million series of new programs in an effort to create a more competitive workforce in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce read with great interest the recent Milwaukee Biz Blog by History Professor Marc Levine from UW-Milwaukee. He claims, based on “major academic studies as well as data from the U.S., Wisconsin, and Milwaukee labor markets” that there is no evidence to support the skills gap thesis. We read the report, and waited to get to the part where the professor talked to manufacturers. Unfortunately, he did not.

MillerCoors and the Milwaukee Brewers announced a multi-year sponsorship renewal that will keep Miller Lite as the team's exclusive beer sponsor.

There is apparent unanimity among Wisconsin business executives and policymakers that the state faces a "skills gap:" thousands of jobs going unfilled because too few Wisconsin workers possess the skills, education, and training for them. This skills mismatch, it is argued, is the central reason why unemployment remains high, even as job vacancies remain unfilled.

Milwaukee-based Joy Global Inc. reported fiscal first quarter net income of $142.1 million, down slightly from $142.5 million in the same period a year ago.

Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, spoke about the current state of manufacturing issues in the United States at the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Focus on Manufacturing Breakfast Friday in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced a Job Fair for Military Veterans will be held on Thursday, March 7, at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Milwaukee area manufacturing sector had a major increase in activity this month, according to the monthly report released by the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

Caterpillar Inc. is preparing for labor negotiations in South Milwaukee this week with contingency workforce planning training for salaried and management personnel.