According to the Department of Workforce Development’s state labor economists, Wisconsin is projected to create 82,867 new jobs and grow by 2.47% across all industries between 2023 and 2025. The leisure and hospitality industry, which experienced a sharp decline in employment during COVID-19, is expected to lead employment growth in this period, growing by 5.25% or adding 15,342 jobs. Health employment also played a critical role in Wisconsin’s economic recovery, and projections suggest that the education and health services sector will soon surpass pre-pandemic employment levels.
DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek mentioned that employment in the state is now higher than it was before COVID-19, and the projections indicate that this growth will continue across all industries. In response to the growing economy, workforce programs and initiatives are being advanced to connect job seekers and employers to maximize the benefits of this growth. DWD’s chief economist Dennis Winters highlighted the importance of leisure and hospitality activities to Wisconsin’s economy, acknowledging the challenges faced by industry employers and workers during the pandemic.
The computer and mathematical occupations are also expected to grow fastest during this period, with an increase of 4.17%. The healthcare support occupational group is among the top three groups to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023. DWD economists collaborate with state and local partners to analyze and understand workforce development trends and challenges, developing long-term (10-year) and short-term (2-year) employment projections across Wisconsin’s industries and occupations. For more information on Wisconsin’s industry employment projections, visit the WisConomy projections page.