To celebrate and honor workers this Labor Day, the High Road Strategy Center has released The State of Working Wisconsin 2026. Since our first edition in 1996, we’ve been providing a view of the economy from the perspective of working people. This year, the picture is mixed. Some real strengths are evident – wages reached a record high in 2025, and since 2019, lower-wage workers have seen particularly strong wage gains. But recently, job growth has stalled, racial inequality in unemployment is growing, and inflation – especially surging prices for gas and utilities – undermines Wisconsinites’ paychecks. 

As usual, our 2026 report provides data on jobs, wages, and unions. This year, we also take on affordability, looking at the distance between what workers earn and the cost of living. One in three Wisconsin families face the financial stress of having too little in their paychecks to cover a decent standard of living. As prices rise, the stress increases as well. And as we have documented for three decades, for too many workers, low wages and weak benefits on the job put a decent standard of living out of reach. A higher minimum wage or pro-worker union policies would help boost workers’ paychecks.

“Job growth has ground to a halt, and though wages hit a new high in 2025, high inflation is undermining workers’ wages in 2026. The State of Working Wisconsin still shows some very bright spots, but the clouds are gathering on the economic horizon,” said report author Laura Dresser.

Key findings:

Wisconsin job growth grinds to a halt

Wisconsin had 3,042,900 jobs in July 2026, down from the record 3,051,000 jobs reached in November 2024. Since January 2025, the state has actually lost jobs while national job growth has continued, though slowly. (For more, see Jobs)

Wisconsin’s unemployment slowly rises, while Black unemployment surges

In the first quarter of 2026, Wisconsin’s Black unemployment rate was 7.2%, nearly three times the 2.3% white rate. Black-white unemployment disparity has risen sharply over the past year and Wisconsin ranks among the worst in the nation. (For more, see Jobs)

Wisconsin median wage reaches a record high: $26.17

Over the past decade, accounting for inflation, Wisconsin’s median hourly wage has risen from $22.10 to $26.17. (For more, see Wages)

Strong wage growth for Wisconsin’s lower-wage workers reduces wage inequality

From 2019 to 2025, wages for workers at the 20th percentile rose 16%, compared with 8% for workers at the 80th percentile. (For more, see Wages)

Wisconsin’s unionization falls three times faster than national

From 2011 to 2025, Wisconsin’s unionization rate fell from 14% to 7.5%, while the national rate declined from 13% to 11%. Wisconsin’s rate has fallen faster than every neighboring state. (For more, see Unions)

Surging prices leave more and more working Wisconsinites unable to cover the basics

One in three working Wisconsin families face substantial financial hardship. Federal policies are exacerbating the affordability crisis. (For more, see Affordability)

The massive deportation campaign is costly and is reducing employment

Recent research finds that deportations reduce the employment of both immigrants and non-immigrants. (For more, see Immigrants)

To view The State of Working Wisconsin 2026, click here.

About High Road Strategy Center

Based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the High Road Strategy Center is a national think-and-do tank that promotes “high road” solutions to social problems. Learn more here, or click below to learn about our projects housed at the High Road Strategy Center: