The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has released new County Workforce Profiles using the latest available data at the local level through 2021. The Sheboygan County data paints a clearer picture of the pressures faced by employers and employees alike, and the report is intended to help in decision-making by planners and policymakers in both the public and private sectors.
The findings state that Sheboygan County’s primary economic challenge going forward will likely be caused by the shrinking workforce. The report says that the County’s Labor Force Participation Rate has been mostly declining since the year 2000, considered among the prime working years for older members of the Baby Boom Generation, and the trend was only amplified by the pandemic.
Manufacturing remains the largest employer, comprising over 35% of the workforce and generating over $1.3 billion ($1,342,880,425) in payroll. And while Leisure and Hospitality comprise only 2-1/2% of total payroll, that sector suffered one of the largest percent losses during the pandemic – around 15%.
Concerning population trends the report says, among other things, that while the City of Sheboygan lost over 1% of its population during the 2010’s, that loss was more than overcome by gains in Plymouth, Sheboygan Falls, and the Town of Sheboygan. Overall the County population expanded 1.23% during the decade, slower than the overall Statewide growth of 2.95%, and far below the National 6.72% growth.
You can access the full report for Sheboygan County here.
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