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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > December 21, 2009
WMC says government jobs now outnumber manufacturing jobs
Published December 21, 2009 - BizTimes Daily
As 2009 draws to a close, Wisconsin has more people working for government than in manufacturing, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) announced today.
A review of state employment data by WMC found this to be a first since records have been kept.
“This is a very disturbing development,” said James Buchen, WMC vice president of government relations. “An economy that has more government jobs than manufacturing jobs cannot be sustained for the long-term. Manufacturing is critical to the success of a strong economy.”
Manufacturing jobs earn the highest wages and offer the best benefits that support families, provide a middle class lifestyle, and sustain strong communities, the WMC said. A strong manufacturing sector supports jobs in other sectors of the economy, the organization said.
The Department of Workforce Development reported that Wisconsin in November had 435,800 jobs in manufacturing and 438,200 government workers.
Fifty years ago, Wisconsin manufacturing workers outnumbered government workers by a 3-to-1 ratio, the WMC said. In 1959, 459,800 people were employed in manufacturing, but only 155,000 were employed in the government.
“Wisconsin needs to turn this trend around quickly,” Buchen said. “Your economy is in a crisis when manufacturing jobs are outnumbered by government jobs.”
