Latest Data: March 2026
Unemployment Rate in AWE Service Area:4.29%
Adams · Forest · Langlade · Lincoln · Marathon · Oneida · Portage · Vilas · Wood Counties
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Economy Overview
Workforce Development Area 6 (9 Counties) | March 2026
Population (2025)+1.5%
427,795
Grew by 6,361 since 2020. Projected +4,141 by 2030.
Total Employment (2025)+3.0%
213,822
Projected to grow by ~3,193 jobs by 2030.
Avg. Earnings Per Job
$68.9K
$20.5K below national average ($89.4K).
Region $68.9KNational $89.4K
Unemployment Rate (Mar 2026)
4.29% Mar 2026 0% 10%
Up from 3.79% five years prior
Labor Force Participation
59.2% Mar 2026 55% 70%
Down from 62.3% in 2020
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.4% vs 21.9% national
3.5% below national average
Job Trends 2020–2030
Actual through 2025 · Projected 2026–2030 (Lightcast)
218K 216K 214K 212K 210K 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Actual Projected
Unemployment Rate Trend
Annual 2021–2025 then monthly through March 2026
6% 4% 3% 2% 0% 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Jan 26 Feb 26 Mar 26 4.58% 4.29%
Labor Force Participation
Persistent decline — structural workforce challenge
63.5% 62% 61% 59.5% 58% 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Jan 26 Feb 26 Mar 26 62.4% 58.7%
Watch closely: The region's 55+ population (164,720) far exceeds the national average of 128,828 — retirement wave will further erode participation.
Demographics & Unemployment
Rate: 4.29% (March 2026)  |  9,649 total unemployed (Feb 2026)
Unemployment by Age Group (Feb 2026)
Total unemployed persons per age band
<22 22–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–59 60–64 379 435 1,844 2,119 ▲ peak 2,065 1,079 980 65+ 749
Educational Attainment
Edu. Attain.
Grad/Prof — 8.0%
Bachelor's — 18.4%
Associate's — 13.3% ↑
Some College — 20.0%
HS Diploma — 34.0%
< HS — 6.3%
Regional strength: Associate's Degree attainment is 4.5% above the national average, reflecting strong technical college pathways.
Millennials (25–39)
70,927
Region
National
Nat. avg: 87,217 — 19% below average
Retiring Soon (55+)
164,720
Region
National
Nat. avg: 128,828 — 28% above average ⚠
Veterans
25,904
Region
National
Nat. avg: 20,276 — 28% above average ✓
Violent Crime Rate 50% below national
1.69 per 1,000
Region 1.69National 3.38
Property Crime Rate 61% below national
6.48 per 1,000
Region 6.48National 16.44
Industry Analysis
Top growth industries and occupations, 2020–2025
Top Growing Industries (Jobs Added 2020–2025)
Estimated net job growth by sector
Accommodation & Food
~2,500
Government
~1,800
Construction
~1,050
Arts & Entertainment
~1,000
Retail Trade
~950
Health Care & Social
~900
Prof. & Scientific
~420
Wholesale Trade
~220
Real Estate & Rental
~170
Manufacturing
~150
Top Growing Occupations (2020–2025)
Estimated net job growth by occupation group
Food Prep & Serving
~3,050
Management
~1,800
Transportation & Moving
~1,500
Business & Financial
~1,420
Bldg. & Grounds Cleaning
~1,000
Community & Social Svc
~480
Construction & Extraction
~430
Educational Instruction
~400
Top Employers
Worker profiles vs. active job postings — last 12 months
Top Companies — Worker Profiles
Online profile mentions, proxy for workforce size
Marshfield Clinic
2,600
Sentry Insurance
1,851
Aspirus
1,826
UW–Stevens Point
1,497
Ministry Health Care
658
State of Wisconsin
616
Walmart
469
Church Mutual Ins.
467
Greenheck
444
Northcentral Tech
397
Top Companies — Job Postings
Unique postings, last 12 months
Aspirus
2,765
Marshfield Clinic
2,335
CompHealth
1,124
Weatherby Healthcare
826
Vetted Health
776
Aya Healthcare
726
Kroger
518
Soliant Health
484
MedPro Staffing
482
Pick And Save
476
Healthcare dominates: Aspirus + Marshfield Clinic = 5,100+ unique postings. Four locum/travel staffing firms in the top 10 signal persistent clinical vacancy pressure.
Workforce & In-Demand Skills
Top specialized skills by job posting frequency — last 12 months
Skill Demand: Region vs. National Average
Region posting frequency National average
Nursing8,800 postings
Lifting Ability7,900
Merchandising7,800
Medicare4,200
Medicaid4,000
Good Driving Record3,900
Food Safety & Sanitation3,800
General Mathematics3,700
Effective Communication3,500
Auditing2,900
Nursing
Lifting Ability
Merchandising
Medicare
Medicaid
Driving Record
Food Safety
Mathematics
Communication
Auditing
Educational Pipeline
5,630
Total Graduates in 2024
Pipeline down 1% over the past 5 years
Graduate Mix by Award Type
Northcentral Technical
UW–Stevens Point
Mid-State Technical
Certificate Associate's Bachelor's Master's+
Top Producing Institutions (2024)
Northcentral Technical
2,071
UW–Stevens Point
1,922
Mid-State Technical
1,205
Nicolet Area Technical
380
State College of Beauty
52
Top Certificate Programs
  • Nursing Assistant / Aide
  • Welding Technology
  • EMT / Paramedic
Population Characteristics
Regional benchmarks vs. national averages
Total Population (2025)
427,795
+1.5% since 2020. Slower than national growth rate of 3.2%.
Age 55+ (Near Retirement)
164,720
National avg: 128,828. 28% above — elevated retirement-wave risk.
RegionNat. avg
Millennials (Ages 25–39)
70,927
National avg: 87,217. 19% below — talent attraction challenge.
RegionNat. avg
Veterans
25,904
National avg: 20,276. 28% above — a regional strength.
RegionNat. avg
Violent Crime Rate
1.69/1K
National: 3.38. 50% below national rate — strong safety profile.
Property Crime Rate
6.48/1K
National: 16.44. 61% below national rate — strong safety profile.