2. News Room

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DWD Provides Resources to Employers to Help Train and Recruit a Talented Workforce

MADISON – Wisconsin employers who want to find talented new job candidates or train and upskill their existing workforce can take advantage of the many resources offered by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and local workforce partners.

Wisconsin has experienced historically low unemployment in recent years, creating a more competitive labor market.

"DWD and our local workforce partners are eager to help Wisconsin employers thrive, especially as our state's economy looks to bounce back better than ever after the pandemic," DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said. "We want employers to understand all of the resources that are available to help them attract and develop a hardworking, talented workforce."

DWD is encouraging employers to take advantage of its many business service resources to find workforce solutions to:

• Recruit qualified workers,
• Retain well-trained and productive employees, and
• Build staff diversity.

Below are resources available to employers from DWD and local partners.

Recruit and Retain Talent

"We understand that for many employers, especially those running smaller- and medium-sized businesses, recruitment and retention strategies often have to take a backseat to running day-to-day operations," Pechacek said. "DWD can help support the mission of your organization by connecting you with effective, low- and no-cost talent development solutions.

JOB CENTER OF WISCONSIN: Business Services Representatives at your local Job Center can help you build and post engaging skills-based job openings online, search for job-ready candidates who have registered on the state's labor exchange, coordinate onsite recruitments, collect applications, screen job candidates, access hiring incentives and tax credits, and connect with additional resources to support your recruitment strategies.

DWD Business Services Representatives can also advise you on how to make informed employment decisions that reflect the conditions in your labor market by using enhanced tools and MyLMI widgets and sharing best practices by other employers in your area. Such insights can help employers stay competitive in a tight labor market.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES: National workforce studies show that employees with disabilities often have higher than average attendance, job performance, safety, and retention rates. Specially trained Business Services Consultants can help you tap into highly reliable, qualified job applicants who are ready to put their diverse abilities to work for you.

VETERANS: Recruiting individuals with military experience can help you build an innovative, resourceful, and reliable workforce. Local Veterans Employment Representatives will help you recruit Veteran job seekers, identify transferrable skills between military and civilian occupations, and access incentives for hiring Veterans.

YOUTH WORKERS: Work-based learning opportunities for youth continue to grow as a key talent development strategy in Wisconsin. Create a loyal talent pipeline by helping local youth obtain in-demand skills through mentored job training. Learn more about innovative models available for building tomorrow's workforce today, including training programs for youth with disabilities.

Training Solutions

"With such a competitive labor market, many employers are struggling to recruit workers who already have the skills their organization is looking for," Pechacek said. "DWD can help employers develop cost-effective short- or long-term training programs to help new recruits quickly gain the necessary skills to be successful. We can also help you retain your experienced workforce by supporting training opportunities that offer new skills and economic advancement."

REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP: Local Apprenticeship Training Representatives can help you build a customized recruitment and skills training system that instills your company's values and encourages workers to stay and advance within your organization through an "earn and learn" model. Beyond the traditional construction, manufacturing, utility, and service sectors, apprenticeship can be used in other high-demand industries like health care, information technology, finance, transportation, biotech, and agriculture. Help your business address the skills gap and enhance worker loyalty with this proven workforce readiness solution.

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP: Employ youth apprentices to meet the needs of your company now and help develop your talent pipeline by offering local high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to graduate with in-demand job skills and industry certifications. YA is not an internship program. Employers screen, interview, and hire the youth apprentices to perform current job duties just like they would when hiring any other employee. The added benefit is that you may be able to retain youth apprentices after graduation by offering them full-time employment and/or a seamless transition into Registered Apprenticeship.

WISCONSIN FAST FORWARD: The Wisconsin Fast Forward program awards customized short-term worker training grants to Wisconsin businesses to fill current and ongoing skill requirements. Employers in all sectors with worker training needs are encouraged to apply for available grants to help upskill new and existing employees.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING: Onboard qualifying new hires and prospective workers with on-the-job training solutions and work experiences to improve retention results. Employers may apply for reimbursement to cover a portion of the training costs.