New data says Wisconsin isn’t losing manufacturing jobs, but the state’s job growth still lags

Depending on which data source you look at, Wisconsin either lost 1,300 manufacturing jobs in the first six months of the year or added 8,000.

The first number is a seasonally adjusted figure that comes from a monthly survey of businesses. It is the same survey that provides jobs data nationally on the first Friday of the month.

The second number comes from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, a measure that’s based on payroll data from nearly all companies that comes out with a six-month delay.

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Ken Notes: There is no question that more people are employed now than ever before. The question is how "well" they are employed. Especially in manufacturing, the skill sets are changing and the best jobs are going to those with the best skills. The gap between skilled and unskilled labor will continue to widen...