The most current wage information can be accessed using the Wage Comparison tool. This tool allows you to compare wage data for a single occupation across multiple counties for three experience levels. State and Metro level wage data is also displayed. There are links to reference articles and guides on WORKnet’s Starting a Business page that will assist you with wage and salary decisions.
Additional wage information, including historical data, is available on WORKnet in the LMI for Business section:
The Department of Workforce Development’s Job Center network offers employers the opportunity to reach thousands of job-ready applicants through their free job listing site, Job Center of Wisconsin. Employers can login and post, edit, and delete their own listings.
Demographic data is available through the WI Department of Administration's (DOA), Demographic Services Center and through the US Census Bureau's American FactFinder. The data available on the DOA Web site is census data; in addition the DOA site also provides population estimates and projections not found on the Census Web site.
Employers can gauge worker availability by looking at Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data available on WORKnet. This data captures the size of the labor force and the number of employed and unemployed residents who are actively seeking employment. Residents who are unemployed and not looking for employment are not included in these statistics. Also, LAUS data does not measure underemployed residents, who can also serve as a significant source of available workers.
Demographic data, including educational attainment, is also available through the WI Department of Administration, Demographic Services Center.
Use WORKnet’s Employer Search tool to find employers in a given county by industry, occupation, or name. For each employer listed, WORKnet provides information on location, employment size range, and detailed industry description. You can narrow your search to the largest employers by using the Large Employer Search. This tool displays the 25 largest employers for a given area and industry.
Use WORKnet’s Industry Projections Search to see what the short- and long-term growth will be for a particular industry. You can also view long-term and short-term Projections Publications for information on employment growth, largest industries, and fastest growing industries. Another resource for learning about expected growth in your industry is the Census Bureau’s LED Tool (local employment dynamics).
Our monthly County Snapshots provide an at-a-glance view of the most recent changes in the local economies. A set of charts, maps and tables display the recent behavior of a number of important economic indicators. Included indicators are employment, average weekly wages, unemployment claims and leading industries and occupations.
WORKnet’s Starting a Business section contains links to articles, guides, tools, and websites for businesses and entrepreneurs who are starting businesses in Wisconsin. Business Wizard, sponsored by the State of Wisconsin, is an interactive tool that will help you determine licensing, permitting and regulatory requirements, obtain necessary application forms, and identify other resources available through the state. In addition, the State of Wisconsin’s Business Forms page consolidates all the state’s business-related forms in one place.
Labor Market Information (LMI) includes, but is not limited to, such key factors as changes in the level and/or composition of economic activity, the population, employment and unemployment, income and earnings, and wage rates and fringe benefits. LMI can be used in making decisions about marketing, determining the available labor pool, hiring workers, paying wages, determining site locations, or expanding your business.
The Department of Workforce Development collects data in a variety of ways. One program obtains employment and wage data from quarterly reports that are submitted by businesses who participate in the Unemployment Insurance program and by conducting a supplemental industry verification survey. Two other programs survey businesses for industry hours, wage, and occupation data. A fourth program develops monthly estimates of labor force participation. Learn more about these programs, including who to contact if you have more specific questions about the data.
