Posted: 09.06.2011

Wisconsin agriculture has been talking about a shortage of qualified workers for a while - and now manufacturers are joining in.

Even though thousands of workers in Wisconsin are unemployed, manufacturers in the state are concerned about the availability of qualified, skilled workers. Some manufacturers say they've lost business or face stagnant growth because they can't find qualified help.

Department of Workforce Development employment centers posted 31,000 job openings statewide last month, including thousands at plants. But the state's unemployment rate was 7.8 percent as of July.

Manufacturers say one problem is a lack of basic math skills. And, they say, the shortage of skilled workers could get worse as older employees retire in coming years.

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