Governor Tony Evers Proclaims September 2026 Workforce Development Month

WHEREAS; Wisconsin has long been a leader in workforce programming, including registered apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and worker training grants, and is home to the nation’s first registered apprenticeship, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance programs; and

WHEREAS; Wisconsin is continuing to see strong economic performance, evidenced by the state’s low unemployment rate and consistently high participation in the labor force, and, in recent years, has achieved record-breaking participation in registered and youth apprenticeship programs, with more than 18,000 active registered apprentices and over 12,000 high school juniors and seniors participating in youth apprenticeships during the 2025-26 school year; and

WHEREAS; Wisconsin’s workforce and economic successes are driven by the spirit of collaboration between educational institutions, state and local workforce agencies, labor unions, and diverse employers statewide; and

WHEREAS; the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) operates job centers at 22 locations—as well as Wisconsin’s online labor exchange, Job Center of Wisconsin—staffed with job service specialists who are knowledgeable about local employer demands and ready to assist individuals with gaining employment, transitioning into new jobs, and advancing their careers through job training; and

WHEREAS; comprehensive job services play an essential role in maintaining a high level of workforce participation through innovative programs that support all Wisconsin workers, including veterans, workers with disabilities, young workers, and justice-involved individuals, to ensure robust career pathways to in-demand industries; and

WHEREAS; making sure Wisconsin’s workforce is prepared to meet the needs of a 21st-century economy is a top priority, and during the Year of the Neighbor, the state is committed to continuing its strategic efforts to bolster the state’s workforce, reduce barriers to workers, and make targeted investments in key sectors that support the success of Wisconsin’s world-class workers and working families; and

WHEREAS; this month, the state of Wisconsin reaffirms its commitment to remaining responsive, inclusive, and adaptable and to advancing policies that call for fair and equitable workforce practices, promote family-sustaining employment, and advocate for the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin's workers, employers, and job seekers to build an economy that works for all Wisconsinites;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Tony Evers, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim September 2026 as

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH

throughout the State of Wisconsin and I commend this observance to all our state’s residents.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Madison this 26th day of August 2026.

TONY EVERS, Governor

By the Governor:

SARAH GODLEWSKI, Secretary of State