The Wisconsin jobs recovery continued in 2014 and the forecast calls for this trend to continue. The Current Employment Statistics (CES) data shows that total employment increased 1.3% in 2014 following the nationwide strong growth of the labor markets. The forecast expects even stronger labor markets in 2015. Wisconsin employment will grow 1.5% in 2015, while the national employment increases 2.3%. *

The Professional and Business Services sector grew 2.5% in 2013 and 1.6% in 2014, driven by extraordinary growth in temporary jobs. This sector recovered the number of jobs lost during the last recession by mid-2011. The forecast expects this sector to grow at a strong pace throughout the forecast period. The forecast calls for 2.4% growth in 2015, 4.5% in 2016, and 2.3% in 2017. Employment in Leisure and Hospitality increased 1.0% in 2014. The forecast calls for continued and steady growth of 1.0% in 2015 and a slower pace of growth for the last two years of the forecast period: 0.3% in 2016 and 0.7% in 2017. This sector recovered all the jobs lost during the last recession by late 2013. *

Where does Wisconsin rank compared to the rest of the country?

7th – Private Sector Job Growth, Bureau of Economic Analysis
10th – Job Creation, Gallup Job Creation Index
13th – Best States for Business, Site Selection Magazine
13th – Economic Outlook, American Legislative Exchange Council
14th – Best & Worst States for Business, Chief Executive Magazine
16th – Private Sector Job Creation, Bureau of Labor Statistics
20th – Small Business Policy, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
22nd – Competitiveness, Beacon Hill
22nd – Best States for Business, CNBC
43rd – State Business Tax Climate, Tax Foundation