Employment Outlook 

Labor Markets

Birchwood School District students reside in 4 Counties: Washburn, Sawyer, Rusk and Barron.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the primary influence on the economy and workforce activity in Wisconsin since March of 2020. The two-month recession attributable to COVID-19 ended the longest economic expansion on record. Reactions to COVID-19 affected every industry and geography in the state. The results were seen in stark terms over the course of a few months and throughout the following year. Job numbers plummeted. Unemployment insurance claims skyrocketed. The workforce sagged but remained fairly intact. The unemployment rate shot up from near record lows in March 2020, to almost 15% in April 2020 in the state. By November 2021, statewide unemployment had returned to historic lows.

 

The outlook for the state's economy is positive, although the ramifications of new viral strains are yet to be determined. Wisconsin's GDP is on the verge of overtaking pre-COVID levels and state job numbers have returned to 96% of pre-pandemic levels. A few industries' employment, such as manufacturing, construction and professional business services, are back near or over pre-pandemic levels. Private businesses continue to voice concerns about their inability to attract talent and workers in general. The primary underlying challenge is the demographic situation of Baby Boomers exiting the workforce. This lifecycle event will continue to complicate the ability of employers to find workers and talent.

 

Listed below are the top five occupations with the most the most expected growth between 2012 and 2022.