Dane County unemployment lowest in state
Madison also had the lowest unemployment among the state’s 35 largest cities at 1.5%.
Employment & HR
Fewer Americans file for jobless claims last week
It’s the first time in nine months that the number of applications for jobless aid has been below 200,000 in back-to-back weeks.
City of Madison launches new program to grow workforce
The MI-TE Program is a paid, six-month-long program, where trainees learn in the classroom and hands-on field training in concrete flatwork, asphalt patching, and utility casting adjustments.
Gov. Evers announces workforce, economic development plans
The governor is proposing a more than $50 million investment in Wisconsin’s health care workforce, as well as nearly $10 million for expanding clean energy job training and reemployment.
Madison schools consider raising summer school teacher pay to $40/hour
Summer school staff pay was increased from $25 to $28 last summer in response to a staffing breakdown that prevented about 600 students from attending summer school.
Portage Plastics purchased by Massachusetts company; most jobs saved
There are now plans to expand the company’s customer base and its Portage facility.
Racine workers on strike since May approve new deal
The United Auto Workers said union members in Racine, Wisconsin, and Burlington, Iowa, approved the deal two weeks after they rejected an earlier proposal.
Spotify latest tech company to cut jobs, axes 6% of workforce
Stockholm-based Spotify had benefited from pandemic lockdowns because more people had sought out entertainment when they were stuck at home.
Survey: Firms expect job cuts in ’23 amid recession fears
Business owners are still concerned that the Fed’s decision-making could push too hard on the economy and potentially put the U.S. into a recession this year.
All Comfort Services becomes Madison’s newest employee-owned company
Over a 10-year period, ESOP companies have 25% higher job growth than comparable companies without an ESOP.
Wisconsin union membership drops to lowest level in more than 2 decades
The state had 187,000 union members this past year, down from 215,000 in 2021.
Worker shortages may help stave off recession for Wisconsin
The most significant issue the state currently faces is a labor force that has been flattening for decades and could begin shrinking by 2035.
Tech layoffs continue, Google axes 12,000 jobs
It’s one of the company’s biggest-ever round of layoffs and adds to tens of thousands of other job losses recently announced by other tech giants.
Alliant Energy Center hosts job fair featuring 90 employers
The 2023 South Central Wisconsin Job Fair will be held Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Madison No. 2 best city for work-life balance
Madison was the only one in the ranking to score a perfect 100 for the mental health metric.
WMC: Workforce shortage remains with recession likely in 2023
The number of businesses projecting the Wisconsin economy to grow has dropped from 84% in summer 2021 to just 42% today.
Madison ranked 9th best city for newly graduated STEM professionals
STEM professions are expected to grow 10.8% between 2021 and 2031, compared to just 4.9% for all other occupations.
Fewer Americans file for jobless benefits last week
U.S. jobless aid applications for the week ending Jan. 14 fell by 15,000 to 190,000, from 205,000 the week before.
Unrest in France over plan to raise retirement age
Under the new rules, French workers would have to work longer before receiving a pension — with the nominal retirement age rising from 62 to 64.
Microsoft lays off 10,000 workers
The layoffs will begin immediately, and the company will also be making changes to its hardware portfolio and consolidating its leased office locations.
