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New Workers Unprepared for Workforce
Bosses in Wisconsin want schools in the state to do a better job.
The latest Employer Survey from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce shows that bosses in the state feel schools are not teaching enough basics.
"Over half of Wisconsin employers say the state’s K-12 education system does not adequately prepare students for the workforce, according to the latest Wisconsin Employer Survey," WMC said. "This frustration, though not new, compounds other workforce issues in the state, including labor availability and demographic challenges."
According to the report "64 percent of employers indicated their employees struggle with reading, math, or both – necessary skills in any position. Many companies – 30 percent of respondents – have had to resort to providing remedial education or tutoring for employees because their K-12 education did not prepare them with adequate reading or math skills."
Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction last year changed its benchmarks for state reading and math tests, so it’s tougher to measure just how well kids are doing with reading and math. But the Nation’s Report Card shows about two-thirds of Wisconsin kids cannot read or write at grade level. Reading and math scores are worse for low income kids, black kids, and all kids in Milwaukee Public Schools.
MPS’s test results show 95% of black fourth graders cannot read at grade level or solve a simple word problem.
“These numbers make clear that we have a skills gap in Wisconsin,” WMC Associate Vice President of Government Relations & Senior Political Advisor Rachel Ver Velde said. “Employers are concerned that applicants do not even have basic skills to do the job at hand.”
Only 10% of bosses in the state said schools in their areas are doing an “excellent” job.
“With less than a quarter of our businesses content with public education outcomes, it’s time to evaluate the system,” Ver Velde added. “Our workforce, our business climate, our economic success all hinge on adequately preparing the next generation of employees.”
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