The quality of the Wisconsin work ethic
is legendary and Wisconsin obviously has some striking resources.
We have a good K-12 public school system, one of the finest
public university systems in the nation and an excellent technical
college system that is responsive to business and strategically
located from a geographic point of view.
But, in an era when nearly everyone agrees with Tom Friedman’s conclusion about
the need for a work force that can compete effectively in a global, knowledge-based
economy, Wisconsin ranks at or below the national average. This is both in terms
of a work force with any sort of advanced degree and a work force which is employed
in what the U.S. Department of Labor would classify as a high-technology job.
Wisconsin needs to energize the existing relationships between our educational
systems and the workplace in a manner that increases quality of education and
efficiency of delivery, while maximizing opportunities and options for both students
and employers.
- We need to continue to enhance the alignment of
employer needs with our educational, training and retraining
opportunities.
- We need to plan for a future with a more diversified
work force and make sure that our educational systems are
affordable and prepared, not just to teach, but also to learn
from the cultural richness emerging in our state.
These are just a few
of the issues awaiting Wisconsin’s leaders. The Wisconsin Business
Council is starting the discussion today. |
