— A decline in Wisconsin’s median wage last year effectively “erased” three years of wage growth, according to a report from a UW-Madison think tank.
The State of Working Wisconsin 2023 report, created by the COWS High Road Strategy Center, explores the latest data on the state’s labor market. Report authors focused on persistent economic inequalities, declining union participation and other factors.
In a section on Wisconsin wages, the report shows the “especially strong” growth seen between 2019 and 2021 was disrupted in 2022. Adjusted for inflation, the state’s median wage fell from $23.27 in 2021 to $22.02 last year, bringing it back to 2019 levels.
Report authors note the state’s median hourly wage has grown by $2.26 between 1979 and 2022, for an increase of 11 percent.
“That amounts to a modest 5 cent per year increase in wages over 43 years,” they wrote. “The productivity and education of our workforce are up substantially over these years, but the reward to workers is just a nickel per hour each year.”
Still, COWS Associate Director Laura Dresser notes workers in the state are “seizing the opportunity” presented by the tight labor market to secure better jobs, or higher wages in their current position. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate hit a record-low 2.4 percent earlier this year before ticking up to 2.6 percent in July.
“It’s especially evident that workers with lower wages have made the strongest gains,” Dresser said in a statement on the report’s findings. “Their progress is helping reduce some of Wisconsin’s most troubling inequities.”
According to the report, white men and women have seen the weakest wage growth in the state since 2019 compared to other racial and ethnic groups. In contrast, the greatest wage gains have been seen among: Hispanic women, with 16 percent; Black men, 14 percent; Hispanic men, 8 percent; and Black women, 4 percent.
Despite these changes, ethnic and racial wage gaps in the state “remain substantial,” report authors noted. Median wages in 2022 were: $25.01 for white men; $21.04 for Black men; $18.84 for Hispanic men; $20.96 for white women; $17 for Black women; and $18.75 for Hispanic women.
See the full report here: https://workingwi.org/
Listen to an earlier podcast with Dresser: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2022/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-laura-dresser-of-cows/
— UW-Madison researchers are taking part in a national effort to advance the development of fusion energy, the university recently announced.
The U.S. Department of Energy is providing nearly $5 million over a three-year period to the effort, which is led by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Participating teams, including those in Madison and elsewhere such as Auburn University in Alabama, wll be creating a virtual data-sharing platform.
This resource will compile results from several fusion devices, including one called Pegasus-III at UW-Madison. Participating researchers will “optimize” the data for analysis using AI tools, according to the release.
The Pegasus-III experiment, also getting DOE funding, is focused on developing a fusion device called a “spherical tokamak,” which uses magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasma for physics experiments. One of the program’s main goals is to explore new ways to launch fusion power plants in the future, the release shows.
The effort is led by Steffi Diem, an assistant professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics.
“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of projects like this one as we continue to push innovation both in the analysis and development of experimental devices and diverse workforce development initiatives,” Diem said in a statement.
See the release: https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-part-of-effort-to-advance-fusion-energy-with-machine-learning/
See more on the Pegasus-III experiment here: https://pegasus.ep.wisc.edu/
— WEDC is providing a $250,000 grant to the city of Eagle River for a downtown brewpub project.
The agency on Friday announced the Community Development Investment Grant dollars, which will support the development of the Riverstone Brewing Company at the site of the former Riverstone Restaurant and Tavern.
“Local brewpubs become key community gathering spaces and Riverstone Brewing Company will help lure visitors to downtown Eagle River to enjoy the many amenities the city has to offer,” WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said in a statement.
According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., upgrades include a 1,400-square-foot expansion, updated flooring and decoration and new brewing equipment. These changes are estimated to boost the property value by $900,000 for the building, first built in 1937.
The brewpub says it will add four full-time jobs and 10 part-time jobs, the release shows.
See the release: https://wedc.org/blog/eagle-river-receives-250000-grant-for-local-brewpub/
— The Wisconsin Technology Council is seeking companies to participate in one of two pitch events at the annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, being held Nov. 8-9 at the Monona Terrace in Madison.
As in previous years, the pitch opportunities include the Tech Council Investor Networks track, which gives companies five minutes to present to investors, and the Elevator Pitch Olympics, which allows participants to give a 90-second pitch in front of conference attendees and a panel of investors.
In addition, pre-selected companies will be able to participate in Investor Intros, which are brief one-on-one meetings with targeted angel and venture investors.
The deadline for the application is 5 p.m. Oct. 6.
See event details: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/early-stage-symposium
Find the application here: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/early-stage-symposium/ess-application-2/
See more at Madison Startups: https://www.madisonstartups.com/apps-open-to-pitch-at-2023-ess/
#TOP STORIES#
# Research helps Wisconsin cranberry growers identify effects from pollinators
# Barrett’s Bagels ‘keeps it interesting’ at the Monroe Street market
# How Paul Bartolotta’s custard crawl helped bring ‘Top Chef’ to Milwaukee
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wild rice production in Wisconsin is below average in 2023
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=815&yr=2023
– Hog prices decline in late summer, lamb prices improve
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=816&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Wisconsin updates plumbing code to national standards
– Dousman considers $27.7M funding plan for 145-acre Lad Lake property development
# EDUCATION
– UW-Madison launches new initiative to train more pharmacists from around Wisconsin
– Where U.S. News ranks Milwaukee-area high schools
# ENTERTAINMENT & THE ARTS
– Marcus Theatres to close three Milwaukee-area cinemas
– KISS concert in Crandon was a once-in-a-lifetime Friday night
# ENVIRONMENT
– Hot weather, windy conditions lead to high fire danger across portions of Wisconsin
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=817&yr=2023
– Experts say a deer at a Wisconsin shooting preserve is infected with chronic wasting disease
# HEALTH CARE
– PFAS breaks through Wausau’s filtration system, exceeding levels proposed by state health officials
– New mental health walk-in clinic for children is coming to Kenosha
– Advocate Aurora sees income rebound in first half of 2023
# LEGAL
– Madison woman’s past haunted her. Free legal help changed her life.
– Judge reprimands Northridge owner for not securing property
# MANUFACTURING
– Harley-Davidson recalls 65,000 Softails with part that may break and raise crash risk
# NONPROFIT
– The head of Madison’s Jewish Social Services uses multiple lenses
# REGULATION
– Menasha and Fox Crossing residents clash with Bucklin’s over noise, dust
# TRANSPORTATION
– As kids return to school, a shortage of bus drivers remains a challenge for Wisconsin districts
– The story behind Door County’s famous curvy road
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture NASS: Wisconsin ag news-county cash rent
