Immigrants Could be Lifeline for Wisconsin’s Economy, Panelists Say
As Wisconsin’s working-age population continues to decline, immigrants could help keep the state’s economy afloat, a panel of local speakers said at a Tuesday night session of the weeklong Cap Times Idea Fest.
The discussion, which took place at Madison College’s Goodman South Campus, was sponsored by Madison-based nonprofit Ascendium Education Group and moderated by Ascendium program officer Valerie Crespin-Trujillo. It featured a presentation on Wisconsin’s labor market from University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension economic development specialist Matt Kures and commentary from representatives from Madison College and local nonprofits Centro Hispano and Literacy Network.
The labor market is tight statewide, with unemployment rates near record lows, but south-central Wisconsin is especially strapped for workers. Despite Dane County being the fastest-growing county in the state, the share of its population in prime working age (25 to 54) shrank from nearly 47% in 2000 to around 41% in 2023, Kures said.
