Walker doing his part
Wisconsin’s need for skilled talent, whether for existing or new employers, certainly requires an “allhands-on-deck” approach. The latest 10-year projections (2014-24) indicate that between growth, retirements and other factors, Wisconsin has close to 1 million jobs to fill, not including the transformational opportunities available as a result of Foxconn, HARIBO and others. With Baby Boomers leaving the workforce in the coming years, there is no doubt there will be an increasing demand for workers.
While the state’s effort to help fill that gap by marketing Wisconsin to veterans and out-of-state millennials has received a lot of attention, we want to make it clear that developing Wisconsin’s own workers has been, and will continue to be, a top priority.
The Walker administration invested more than $200 million to support workforce development over the last four years and is allocating over $140 million more in the current budget to ensure that any Wisconsin resident who wants a job receives the training needed to fill open positions throughout the state.
This includes expanded investments to assist Wisconsin workers facing a variety of challenges in “skilling up” and “skilling in” to family-supporting jobs. Gov. Scott Walker’s “Workforce Agenda” reaches out to those with disabilities, to veterans returning from military service, to the re-entry population, the longterm unemployed, the underrepresented populations in high-unemployment areas, college students, youth apprentices and many others. And the governor’s continued welfare reforms are focused on assisting more individuals to move into the workforce and experience the dignity of work.
The existing and new efforts are not mutually exclusive, but represent a strong commitment on Wisconsin’s part to address our workforce needs.
Mark R. Hogan Secretary and CEO Wisconsin Economic
Development Corp.
Ray Allen Secretary Department of Workforce Development
Harley’s real problem
Nobody should be surprised that Harley-Davidson’s motorcycle sales have gone down four years in a row (“Harley to close KC plant as profits drop,” Jan. 31).
Our economy is working great for the rich. But the Donald Trumps, Charles Kochs and Chris Abeles of our world can only buy so many Harleys.
The Republican Party’s unrelenting war war against the middle class and working poor is shrinking the middle class. The result is fewer people with the discretionary funds to buy a Harley.
Why is Harley opening a plant in Asia while it closes one in Kansas City? It knows where the middle class is growing.
The same day Harley announced it was putting 800 workers out of work, Wisconsin Republican politicians were genuflecting to rent-toown companies, trying to make it easier for them to exploit the working poor (“GOP pushes to loosen rent-to-own rules”).
The Trump tax cut is simply more welfare for the wealthy: huge tax cuts for those who don’t need them, crumbs for you and me.
Partner that with cuts to public education, GOP refusal to raise the minimum wage or require family leave, refusal to rein in scurrilous landlords, and the picture is clear.
Policies championed by Republicans are increasing the hurdles for citizens to make it into the middle class and someday have a shot at buying a Harley.
Charlie Dee