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Seeds of Workforce Change: A Regional Approach to Improving our Economic Landscape in Southwest & South Central Wisconsin

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7/28/2006

By: COWS 

Seeds of Workforce Change: A Regional Approach to Improving our Economic Landscape in Southwest & South Central Wisconsin (SWSC). COWS’ new report profiles key economic and demographic trends in the vital SWSC corner of Wisconsin. It provides the background data needed to better understand the dynamics of the region, and suggests some important ways, given these data, to improve worker skills, firm productivity, economic development, and long-term planning in SWSC.


In an increasingly global economy we, more than ever, need to think and act regionally in order to compete, grow, and ensure long-term economic vitality. Individual towns, cities, and counties can no longer compete for increased business activity or offer workers a wide array of jobs on their own. We must reach across the boundaries between town, city, and county to harness the strengths of the region’s shared labor force, common set of industries, and community of employers. 


One of the primary suggestions we make in the report is to develop a strong “leave no worker behind” campaign. We must work collectively to invest in skills development for the thousands of workers in the region who do not have four-year college degrees, and may be lacking the education and training needed to be productive and advance their careers. Increasingly, our economy will depend on these workers to remain competitive, and we cannot afford to leave them behind.


Seeds of Workforce Change represents the beginning of a collaborative effort to align and strengthen economic and workforce development systems in the region. The report was produced by COWS, with the input of many key stakeholders in the region, for the Workforce Development Boards of South Central and Southwest Wisconsin. It was made possible by a grant from Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as part of Governor Doyle’s “Growing Regional Opportunities in Wisconsin” (GROW) initiative.


Copyright © 2006