Strong job growth estimates offer hope to those still out of work

March 26, 2021

Short-term Industry Employment Projections Second Quarter

Short-term Occupational Employment by percent change

Short-term occupation and industry job projections for the state of Wisconsin show strong growth through the 2nd quarter of 2022. These estimates point to a continued, swift recovery of the job losses felt through the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the Department of Workforce state labor economist's projections, Wisconsin will add 243,511 new jobs by mid-2022, an 8.2% increase.

"This is great news for the Wisconsin worker, and the Wisconsin economy as a whole," DWD Chief Labor Economist Dennis Winters said. "The COVID-19 pandemic that spread throughout the globe in 2020 caused the swiftest job loss in our state's history, and potentially changed the workplace in many industries indefinitely. Employers in many industries will adapt their workplaces to the post-COVID economy. And as restrictions are eased, industries like Leisure and Hospitality are poised to grow rapidly as consumer demand increases."

Wisconsin's strong manufacturing and construction sectors eased the impact of COVID-19 on state jobs compared to states that are more reliant on a single industry. Still, many workers were left scrambling to change careers or access benefits to survive the sudden downturn.

"Wisconsin's diverse industry make-up helped our economy weather the impact of the COVID pandemic better than some other states, but many workers and businesses continue to struggle. These projections are encouraging, and DWD stands ready to assist workers as they transition back into the workforce," DWD Secretary-designee Pechacek said.

The current short-term projections consider the impact of COVID-19 on all industries and occupations in the state.

DWD economists work with state and local partners to offer analysis and understanding into workforce development trends and challenges. They develop long-term (10-year) and short-term (2-year) projections of employment across Wisconsin's approximately 300 industries and 800 occupations.

Visit WisConomy.com for the latest labor market information for the state of Wisconsin.