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Research & Impact

Future Wisconsin Project

Research & reports

WMC Studies

WMC Foundation’s The Future Wisconsin Project is a long-term strategic plan for Wisconsin aimed at creating sustained economic growth. Throughout the lifetime of the project, WMC Foundation has conducted research amongst Wisconsin employers, educators and government leaders to identify the greatest challenges facing Wisconsin’s economy, and solutions to drive the state forward. 

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WISCONSIN COMPETITIVENESS REPORT

Wisconsin is Falling Behind: Wisconsin Competitiveness Report Sets the Roadmap to Save the State

Wisconsin faces a shrinking population, a labor market that’s failing to grow, burdensome regulations, lagging educational performance, soaring health care costs, and a tax climate that weighs heavily on families and employers alike. These pressures do not exist in isolation. They are making Wisconsin increasingly unaffordable for working families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“When families and businesses look for a home, they make calculated decisions and weigh the pros and cons,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “Some states roll out the red carpet for businesses. Other states roll out the red tape. Wisconsin has to decide which state it wants to be.”

The report takes a detailed, metric-driven look at where Wisconsin is falling behind on key competitive indicators and offers policy solutions to put the state back on track.

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FUTURE WISCONSIN PROJECT

Wisconsin 2035 Reports

WISCONSIN 2035

WMC Foundation's long-term strategic plan for Wisconsin provides solutions to persistent labor shortage and more

WMC Foundation’s Future Wisconsin Project released its “Wisconsin 2035” report to detail the challenges facing Wisconsin’s business community and propose potential solutions for long-term economic growth. The new publication identifies the workforce shortage as the biggest problem facing Wisconsin’s business community. The workforce shortage must be tackled in three ways: attraction, retention and expansion.

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An Arm & A LEG

New report seeks to make health care more affordable

Over the past several years, the cost of health care has become a major pain point for employers – especially in Wisconsin. The high costs of health care hinder economic opportunity and growth.

In addition to shedding light on effective policy reforms, An Arm & A Leg delves into case studies of best practices, drawing attention to proven policies and operating procedures to increase accountability and competition while lowering health care costs.

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EDUCATING OUR FUTURE

Reforms and best practices to move Wisconsin forward

The next generation of workers will come from the state’s K-12 schools. Unfortunately, Wisconsin is not making the grade when it comes to preparing young people. In an effort to improve Wisconsin’s educational and economic outcomes, this report highlights pain points in the current system. In addition, it provides best practices from around Wisconsin that can be replicated and offers ideas on how to increase the number of graduates who are workforce and college ready.

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WISCONSIN'S DEMOGRAPHIC DILEMMA

New data shows Wisconsin is one of 14 states with median age over 40

There are not enough people living in Wisconsin to fill all the available jobs now and in the future. As the report explains, Wisconsin must attract more people into its borders because the state is not naturally growing the population needed to match economic growth. By improving the tax climate, improving education opportunities and attainment, committing to talent attraction, and increasing the labor force participating, Wisconsin can bring more people to the state and keep more who are already here.

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FUTURE WISCONSIN PROJECT

Research Reports

Education Reform

Polling assesses voter attitudes with respect to education funding and education reform issues

A new poll found education reform has significant support amongst Wisconsinites, including narrowing the funding gap between public schools and choice schools, and expanding the state’s school choice opportunities for students. The poll also found strong support for school choice. Seventy percent of respondents said they support school choice, including a majority Republicans, Independents and Democrats.

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REVITALIZING RURAL WISCONSIN

A strategic plan to expand rural opportunity

As population, jobs, and business growth have increasingly concentrated in a small number of major metropolitan areas, rural America and rural Wisconsin face significant challenges to their economic health and well-being. Ideas, even old ones, viewed through a 2020 lens and championed by Wisconsin’s private sector leaders can make a difference.

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worker welding

Wisconsin Workforce Competitiveness Evaluation

Wisconsin's workforce shortage is perhaps the primary threat to economic success

WMC Foundation conducted research amongst employers and educators throughout Wisconsin to better understand the skills gap in the state. The “Wisconsin Workforce Competitiveness Evaluation” proposed many solutions including: attracting talent to grow the workforce and expanding technical education programs to properly prepare individuals to enter the workforce.

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Wisconsin State of Mind: A National Perception Study

Wisconsin's need to market job opportunities, diverse culture, and high-quality living conditions

WMC Foundation’s Future Wisconsin Project released its “Wisconsin State of Mind: A National Perception Study” report in an effort to bring attention to the national perception of Wisconsin and ways to improve that perception to attract more workers to the state. The publication identified Wisconsin as being nationally perceived as a leader in education and all around safety. The report also noted that Wisconsin is perceived to: lack diversity, only offer agricultural job opportunities, and have a lower quality of living due to the colder climate.

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Other Projects

WMC Foundation has many other projects as well.

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