Contact:
Tom Evenson
(608) 266-2839

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker released his Weekly Radio Address today titled “Workforce, Workforce, Workforce.”

Hi, Scott Walker here.

As governor, workforce development has always been a top priority for me. But we had a more immediate concern when we took office. It was creating jobs. Back in 2010, our unemployment rate was 8.1 percent. First and foremost, we had to help connect Wisconsin’s workers with good-paying jobs.

Today, I’m proud to announce our unemployment rate is 3.1 percent. You heard me – 3.1 percent. That’s down from last month and it is the lowest our unemployment rate has been since 1999.

Wisconsin is working again, and our focus has shifted from jobs, jobs, jobs, to workforce, workforce, workforce.

Here’s the bottom line: the future success of Wisconsin depends upon our ability to provide our next generation of workers with the practical skills and knowledge that they need to thrive in our workforce.

And President Trump agrees with us here. In fact, earlier this week, he chose to kick off his Workforce Week right here in Wisconsin at the Waukesha County Technical College.

That’s because we’re doing such great work here in Wisconsin to strengthen our workforce. We’re investing our Reform Dividend into programs and education that are helping us build the skilled and dependable workforce Wisconsin is known for.

We’re putting more actual dollars into K-12 education, which includes funding for workforce development programs like Youth Apprenticeships, Fab Labs, and Project SEARCH.

Programs like these are crucial tools that give our students the necessary training they need to prepare for higher education, a career, and a successful life.

And once students complete high school, we make it easier and more affordable to pursue a technical college, a trade school, or university as well. We froze tuition at all University of Wisconsin colleges and propose doing it again in our state budget.

On top of this, we’re fighting to freeze technical college tuition and increase financial aid so we can develop the workforce we need for high-demand industries like manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and information technology.

Our Wisconsin Works for Everyone welfare reform package helps connect people on public assistance with jobs by providing hands-on skills and job training. This helps move them from government dependence to true independence and it helps them realize the dignity that comes from work.

Workforce development is one of our top priorities. We want to help Wisconsin, and our workers, become some of the best and most prosperous in the nation by bridging the skills gap and empowering our students and workers.

Together, we are working and winning for Wisconsin.

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