Select a topic... An Overview Job Data Milwaukee's Largest Employers

The five-county metropolitan area is an ideal community in which to find work because there is a variety of manufacturing, service, financial and public-sector jobs. Most manufacturing industries include agricultural equipment, electronic controls, printing, mining machinery and sophisticated medical equipment. There are many opportunities in health care as well. In fact, health services is expected to be one of the fastest-growing occupational fields in the metropolitan area.

Milwaukee is primarily a "private-sector" city. Only 11.3 percent of the area's work force is employed in government-related jobs, compared with the national average of 16.5 percent. Nonetheless, the city does offer many public-sector jobs. It is home to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It is also home to regional offices for several state and federal agencies. In addition, Milwaukee is a short commuting distance from several other major employment markets - including Madison, the state capital, which is located 70 minutes to the west; and Chicago, the nation's third-largest city, which is located 90 minutes to the south.

Milwaukee offers many opportunities for people looking to continue their education or learn new skills. The five-county region is home to eight four-year colleges, two major universities and several specialty institutions. Area colleges and universities enrolled more than 60,000 people in the 2004-2005 school year, including 46,100 in undergraduate programs and 11,300 in graduate and professional programs. More than 6.500 bachelor's degrees were conferred during the last academic year, mostly in the business and engineering fields.

The Milwaukee area is served by five integrated health care systems - Aurora Health Care, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Horizon Healthcare, ProHealth Care and All Saints Health System. Together, these systems employ more than 33,000 people in the Milwaukee area in a variety of medical and non-medical positions. In addition, there are many employment opportunities at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, which includes the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin and Curative Rehabilitation Services.

>An excellent resource guide for people seeking employment with large companies is the "Top 25 Book of Lists" published by The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee (telephone: (414) 278-7788). This book is published annually and includes dozens of lists describing the largest manufacturers, accounting firms, advertising agencies, law firms, publicly-held companies and financial institutions, among other things.

State Job Service

Thanks to the Internet, anyone with a computer can conduct a comprehensive search for employment without ever stepping foot in the state. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's website - www.dwd.state.wi.us - allows browsers to search for job openings, research average salaries and identify the fastest-growing occupations in the state. The information can also be obtained by contacting the Department of Workforce Development at (608) 266-3131.