Laura Dresser Center on Wisconsin Strategy cows

1. Laura DresserCenter on Wisconsin Strategy www.cows.org Seeds of Workforce Change A regional approach to improving the economic landscape of Southwest and South Central Wisconsin Presented to Dane Planning Forum, Friday September 29, 2006

2. The Region Source:. Center on Wisconsin Strategy, GROW Report, Figure 1.4.

3. These 12 counties account for • More than 1 million people: 19 percent of WI population • 600,000 workers: 20 percent of WI total • $37 billion gross regional product: 20 percent of WI GSP • $3.8 billion in exports: 16 percent of WI total

4. Education, Manufacturing and Health in SWSC

5. Commuting Patterns in the Region Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Commuting flows of county residents into work county exceeding 5% are shown.

6. 4 Distinct Sub-Regions

7. Intra-Regional Trends • A Growing Region, but Uneven Growth (driven by Dane County) • Rural Counties Lagging • Rock County Vulnerable, Dependent on GM and Related Suppliers

8. Per Capita Income Growth1969–2003 (2002 dollars) Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The Seeds of Workforce Change 2006

9. Sub-Regional Population Growth, 1969–2003 Source:. Center on Wisconsin Strategy, GROW Report, Figure 2.1.

10. Sub-Regional Snapshot of SWSC Source:. Center on Wisconsin Strategy, GROW Report, Table 2.1.

11. Dane: A Center for Jobs • 43 percent of total SWSC population • 53 percent of total SWSC jobs • High housing costs close to center push more workers further out • Increasingly commuters are spilling into surrounding counties

12. Health Care Employment1990–2004, Four Sub-Regions Source:. Center on Wisconsin Strategy, GROW Report, Figure 4.6.

13. Manufacturing Employment 1990–2004, Four Sub-Regions Source:. Center on Wisconsin Strategy, GROW Report, Figure4.2.

14. Top Five Industries, Dane County, 2004 Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The Seeds of Workforce Change 2006

15. Dane County Top 10 Industries for Job Growth Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The Seeds of Workforce Change 2006

16. Dane County Top 10 Occupations for Most Projected Job Growth Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The Seeds of Workforce Change 2006

17. Median Wages and Shares of the Workforce by EducationWisconsin and U.S., 2005 (2005 dollars) Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The State of Working Wisconsin 2006

18. Driver Industries, SWSC Wisconsin Center on Wisconsin Strategy, The Seeds of Workforce Change 2006

19. Key Workforce Issues • Tight labor markets: Low unemployment looking forward • Job quality challenges: growing numbers of low-wage/low-benefit jobs • Skill gaps: Skilled trades, manufacturing, health care, public sector • For some, weak basic skills foundation • Increasing diversity • Increasing regional connections • Seizing new opportunities in emerging industries

20. Low Unemployment into the Future • Labor force participation rates high • Baby boom shifting into retirement Labor Force Participation, 2004 Source: Wisconsin DWD, US Bureau of Labor Statistics

21. Who lacks a solid base of “basic skills”?

22. Diversity is increasing, disparity remains significant

23. Strategies for Moving the Region Forward • Build community support for ensuring economic and community success by building basic skills and investing in and engaging with disadvantaged youth • Strengthen and expand efforts for more coordinated, strategic, forward-looking work in regional workforce issues • Invest in industry partnerships that connect with growing and emerging occupational opportunities • Advanced Manufacturing/Food Processing • Health Care • Construction & Skilled Trades • Biotechnology/Life Sciences & Biobased Industry

24. Strategies for Moving the Region Forward (cont.) • Develop a health care “Workforce Excellence Center” for training current and future workers in • Pilot new ways of coordinating regional economic and workforce development activities • Collaborating on regional intervention and opportunity work • Cluster leadership