The state of Wisconsin gained nearly 20,000 jobs in 2011, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Associated Press reported. The jobs numbers are in line with the state’s recent estimates.
“The finalized, federal data clearly shows that Wisconsin gained thousands of jobs in 2011,” Gov. Scott Walker said. “This is a complete turnaround from the more than 100,000 jobs lost in the three years before I took office—which is when unemployment peaked above 9%. Now, the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been since 2008. Moving forward I will continue to focus on making it easier for employers to create and retain jobs in Wisconsin.”
However, Wisconsin ranked about 40th in the country in job creation last year, according to the report.
“However you slice it, Wisconsin is far behind the rest of the country on job creation,” said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha. “Wisconsin unfortunately has the worst jobs record in the Midwest. This jobs crisis could have been avoided if Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans had spent any meaningful time focusing on jobs during the past year and a half. Instead they focused on extreme, right-wing social issues and making it harder for workers to support their families. And Republicans’ marquee jobs bills – venture capital and mining – both died because they failed to lead and refused to work with other interested parties. My plea is to stop the hyper-focus on numbers and come to the table and work in a bipartisan manner on creating good-paying jobs and closing the skills gap in our state.”
