MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s return to near pre-pandemic unemployment levels has brought with it the reemergence of one of the biggest challenges facing some of the state’s largest industries
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Wisconsinâs return to near pre-pandemic unemployment levels has brought with it the reemergence of one of the biggest challenges facing some of the stateâs largest industries â a workforce shortage.
The need for workers in multiple sectors of the economy has Republicans and the stateâs largest business lobby calling on the state to end its participation in enhanced federal pandemic unemployment benefits, which they say creates a disincentive to work.
Liberals point to long-term structural changes as an opportunity to provide higher wages, better benefits, more skills-based training and adequate child care offerings â a need that was drastically amplified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic â as necessary to get more Wisconsinites into the workforce.
Shortage concerns come despite elevated unemployment rate in Wisconsin
Written By:
Rachael Vasquez / Wisconsin Public Radio | 5:00 pm, Dec. 10, 2020 × iStock/AndreyPopov
The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) says many businesses continue to deal with a shortage of workers, despite historically high levels of unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The trade group for small businesses found in its November jobs report that nationwide, 34% of survey respondents reported open positions they were unable to fill. That s a slight increase from October when that number was 33%.
Of those respondents who struggled to fill open positions, 89% said there were few or no qualified applicants for the jobs they were hiring for.