Contact: Melanie Conklin, 608-260-2409
New numbers from Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Wisconsin continues to lag behind the nation on job growth
MADISON — Gov. Scott Walker continues to twist numbers to cover up the fact that his economic policies have caused Wisconsin to utterly fail to keep pace with national post-recession recovery. In fact, Wisconsin would have an additional 131,000 jobs if the state had just kept up with the pace of the nation. That’s ten times the 13,000 jobs that Walker claims his $4.5 billion Foxconn boondoggle might deliver under a best-case scenario.
Over Walker’s time in office, Wisconsin ranks a lowly 34th among the states in private-sector job growth, an embarrassing failure he attempts to cover up as he campaigns for re-election.
“Job growth under Scott Walker lags far behind the nation because taking money away from roads and schools to give tax breaks to wealthy donors and corporations is not a sound economic strategy,” said Melanie Conklin, communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “To grow Wisconsin jobs and wages, we need a Democratic governor who will invest in Wisconsin’s businesses, roads and schools.”
Additional facts about Walker’s jobs failures:
- Wisconsin has trailed the national average in private sector job creation for seven straight years – every single quarter since Walker’s first state budget.
- Wisconsin ranks 34th in job growth for the period of Walker’s two terms in office.
- Wisconsin ranks dead last in the nation for start-up businesses.
- Nearly 2,000 blue-collar veterans are expected to be out of construction jobs because of Walker’s decision to eliminate the prevailing wage law. The total income of all veterans employed in construction jobs will decline by $113 million; about 400 veterans will lose their employer-provided health plan; and about 200 veteran workers will fall into poverty by 2018.
- A Walker tax credit gave $21.5 million in tax cuts to 11 ultra-wealthy individuals who make over $35 million. Walker Administration could not provide proof of jobs this created.
- Nearly 14,000 Wisconsin jobs have been outsourced to other countries since Scott Walker took office.
- The state’s median wages, when adjusted for inflation, are lower today than they were when Scott Walker took office.
- Wisconsin’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25/hour since 2009. Walker has refused to raise the minimum wage, even though a $10.10/hour wage would boost economic activity in Wisconsin by $517 million over a three-year period and create 3,800 new jobs.
