Report: Private Sector Jobs Saw Best Gains in Decade
For the City-Times
In a statement released Thursday, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) says Wisconsin private sector jobs are on the rise.
Newly calculated jobs data indicated 62,072 private sector jobs were added in 2011-2012. This news comes after losing 134,000 jobs during the previous Governor’s last term, making the gains the best two- year numbers under any governor in over a decade.
DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said 32,000 jobs were added during 2012. The total is based on reports from nearly 160,000 Wisconsin employers.
In 2012, Wisconsin had the largest growth in construction jobs in over a decade.
Wages by private employers grew by 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, up to $26 billion from $24.5 billion.
“In the past two years, more than 62,000 Wisconsinites have found jobs and their families can now put food on the table and provide for their children. Under Governor Walker’s leadership, we are working together to help the private sector create jobs and get our people back to work, and this actual job count shows we’re moving forward in the right direction,” DWD Secretary Reggie Newson said.