Posted: 09.20.2011
In a live conversation on the Tuesday morning WI Farm Report radio show - Lt. Governor, Rebecca Kleefish, said she does not hear from Wisconsin agribusiness or rural community business about the lack of qualified applicants to fill existing jobs.
Kleefish was on the show promoting a November 1 summit, being held at Lambeau Field - hosted by Gov. Scott Walker, to find out what job sectors need help and what tools the state has to help. Registration for the event costs $50 and on-line registration can be found at www.WHEDA.com.
When asked by Pam Jahnke whether she was aware of the lack of qualified candidates for some of the technical agriculture jobs available - Kleefish said she was not. "I have not really heard that from agribusiness as much as I have heard that from manufacturing. It's very typical to hear if from manufacturers," she continued, "because we having greying workforce. You know the first of baby boomers hit age 65 in January - obviously people are going to continue to age, and we're losing a lot of people with important skills in important industries. But, agriculture - that's not something I've heard at my small business round tables I've held around the state."
Kleefish said if that is an issue - that the agribusiness segment needs to show up at the November 1 forum. Kleefish says there's a manufacturing program that Wisconsin is considering joining in order to address workforce development issues - but if this is a challenge shared by agribusiness, then Kleefish says it needs to be addressed.
"You know we sell Wisconsin as the place that has the best educated workforce in the world - and we need to make sure we're delivering on that promise," Kleefish said.
Kleefish says that currently the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is trying very hard to bring in new farmers - and growing up new farmers - but that if there's a workforce shortage because of financial literacy and other issues - then it needs to be addressed.
You can hear the entire interview with Lt. Gov. Kleefish by checking out our podcasts - available on our homepage.
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