| PEWAUKEE – Governor Scott Walker today promoted the importance of workforce development while visiting Waukesha County Technical College. While on campus, Governor Walker toured a robotics workshop where he discussed the importance of skills development for high-tech jobs.
“Wisconsin is ready to win the 21st century and part of that is making sure our workforce has the skills to compete in the global economy,” said Governor Walker. “By investing in our workforce through training programs, like those offered at Waukesha County Technical College, we are investing in our state’s future. Through our over $365 million investment in workforce development we are providing worker training programs that will keep Wisconsin moving forward.”
Waukesha County Technical College serves the Waukesha area with more than 150 areas of study that enable students to develop the skills needed to be competitive in today’s job market. The campus is home to a robotics lab and many other unique opportunities that help students gain the necessary skills to fill high demand jobs like those in tech and manufacturing.
Governor Walker’s workforce development initiatives include:
- Fabrication Labs (Fab Labs): Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is helping outfit public schools with equipment that helps students gain skills to work in high-demand careers. Fab Labs are high-technology workshops equipped with computer-controlled manufacturing components, such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers, and/or plasma cutters.
- Education: Governor Walker invested a historic amount into K-12 education. This historic investment resulted in an extra $200 per student to every school last year, and an additional $204 per student for this coming school year.
- Youth Apprenticeships: Governor Walker has more than doubled Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program since taking office from $1.6 million in 2010 to $3.2 million in 2016. The program is designed for junior and seniors in high schools to gain hands-on experience at a worksite with classroom instruction. In June 2017, the Department of Workforce Development announced a record $3.9 million in Youth Apprenticeship state grants which will serve 4,300 students.
- Wisconsin Fast Forward: Wisconsin Department of Workforce and Development (DWD) provides grants to Wisconsin businesses who provide customized skills training for high-demand jobs. The program was created by Governor Walker in 2013 with bipartisan support. The goal is to train and retain highly skilled Wisconsin workers.
- Wisconsin Career Creator: DWD created the Wisconsin Career Creator Program to improve educational and training opportunities. It is a $20 million initiative that has the support of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), University of Wisconsin System (UW-System), and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU).
- Talent Attraction: WEDC created a talent attraction campaign that strives to bring veterans, alumni of Wisconsin’s colleges and universities, and millennials to live and work in our state. This will help grow Wisconsin’s workforce and economy.
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