Chaotic and anti-worker federal policy is undermining Working Wisconsin
Workers’ perspective on the Wisconsin economy
Since 1996, in celebration of Labor Day and Wisconsin workers, the High Road Strategy Center has released the State of Working Wisconsin. Our annual report analyzes the most recent data available on wages, jobs, and unions to provide clear information on the economy as experienced by the working people of the state.
Our 2025 report lands at an extraordinary time for working Wisconsin. Economic growth, which began as the recovery from pandemic shutdowns, continues, and key economic indicators are solid. Wisconsin has a growing number of jobs, sustained low unemployment, and wages are rising. The state’s median wage grew to a record high of $25.01 and our labor market reached a record of 3,058,500 jobs in July. There are hints of economic troubles especially in the jobs data – job growth in 2025 has been weak (averaging just 1400 jobs per month). Wisconsin’s economic softening mirrors the issues at a national level where many analysts are warning of a slow down or even a recession.
Wisconsin’s short-term economic strengths mask deep problems of inequality and job quality. The state economy is riddled with inequalities by geography, race, education and gender. Work doesn’t guarantee access to decent pay, predictable schedules, health insurance, and a decent standard of living for families, especially for the state’s lowest wage workers. These workers have made gains over the past five years but still face impossible choices making ends meet. By building the collective voice of workers, unions improve wages and working conditions. However, Wisconsin state policies have undermined unions, and despite increasing interest in and support for them, the rate of unionization continues to fall.
Massive disruption in federal policy defines this moment for working Wisconsin as much as the data. Changes include the economic chaos of a volatile tariff regime, aggressive hostility toward immigrant workers, the nation’s largest instance of union-busting, the announcement of a dizzying array of anti-worker policies, and dramatic cuts to programs that support lower wage workers. Even the federal data itself has come under attack by the administration. Working people in Wisconsin will pay the price of many of these policies and given their importance, we document them in a special Federal Policy feature this year.
Key Working Wisconsin Facts
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Wisconsin’s 2024 median wage – $25.01 per hour – reached a record high.
Real wages (which take inflation into account) rose by 70 cents last year, reaching $25.01. Wages reached new highs for both men ($27.05) and women ($22.98). (For more, see Wages.)
Wisconsin jobs are growing to new highs, but growth is less than half the national rate and slowing.
Since the 2020 pandemic shutdowns, both national and Wisconsin job growth has reached new labor market highs. Wisconsin reached 3,058,500 jobs in July 2025. But growth has been slow, and Wisconsin’s recovery has generated less than half as many jobs as it would have if it matched the national recovery. (For more, see Jobs.)
Federal policies – pro-tariff, anti-immigrant, and anti-worker – are reshaping the economy, and Wisconsin workers will pay the price.
Hallmark federal policies will cool the economy. Tariffs increase prices, hostility toward immigrants hobbles labor market growth, and federal cuts to health care and other supports will hit Wisconsin’s low-wage workers particularly hard. We are especially concerned about the future reliability of the very data we use for this report. (For more see Federal Policy.)
The gender gap in wages has closed as women have made substantial wage gains while men’s wage gains are tepid.
From 1979 to 2024, women’s wages grew by more than 50%. Men’s wages are up just 4% over the same period. (For more, see Wages.)
Wisconsin’s workers are losing the protection of unions at a rate that outstrips national and neighboring states.
In Wisconsin, union coverage collapsed, from 14% to 7% from 2011-24. Over the same period, national unionization fell from 13% to 11%. Wisconsin’s union rates are plummeting as national rates and the rates of our neighbors fall less rapidly. (For more, see Unions.)
Immigrant workers make massive contributions to the Wisconsin economy.
Wisconsin’s 300,000 immigrants make up 7% of the state’s workforce, generate $23 billion in economic output, and contribute in every sector of our economy. (For more, see Immigrants.)
Jobs
Wisconsin’s job market hit a record high in 2025 with sustained low unemployment, but job growth has slowed and continues to lag behind the national pace. Disparities by race and geography remain, though gaps between counties are at historic lows.
Wages
Wisconsin’s median wage reached a record $25.01 in 2024, with especially strong gains for lower-wage workers narrowing inequality. Still, racial and gender wage gaps persist, and long-term productivity gains remain disconnected from workers’ pay.
Unions
Union membership in Wisconsin has fallen to just 7%, one of the sharpest declines in the nation, driven by Act 10 and “right to work” laws. This erosion of worker power deepens inequality, even as public support for unions remains strong.
Immigrants
Wisconsin’s 320,000 immigrants are essential to the economy, contributing $23 billion annually and filling critical roles from agriculture to health care. Yet anti-immigrant policies and state barriers like lack of driver’s license access limit their full participation.
Federal Policy
New federal tariffs, anti-immigrant crackdowns, and sweeping anti-worker measures threaten to weaken Wisconsin’s economy. Cuts to health care, food assistance, and student aid, combined with attacks on unions and federal data integrity, will hit working families especially hard.
Can’t Survive on $7.25: Higher Minimum Wages for Working Wisconsin
For 15 years, Wisconsin’s minimum wage has been stuck at the federal minimum level of $7.25, which has not been raised since 2009. A higher and well enforced minimum wage helps build a floor that allows workers, employers, and our communities to thrive. In this report, we offer a picture of who wins in Wisconsin with higher minimum wages and some reasons to support higher labor standards for the state. A stronger floor is necessary and possible in Wisconsin. Workers can’t survive on $7.25. It is time to raise the floor.
Read ‘Can’t Survive On $7.25: Higher Minimum Wages for Working Wisconsin’
Acknowledgments
The State of Working Wisconsin 2025 is written by Laura Dresser, Joel Rogers, and Leslie Vasquez.
We would also like to thank the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in Washington DC for their support with data and analysis.