Growing Careers
The metro region is home to 14 Fortune 1000 companies, which is high for a region its size.
Milwaukee has been a center of commerce since the Potawatomi Indians first settled along the shores of the Menomonee River and Lake Michigan hundreds of years ago. The region’s research facilities, educational institutions and manufacturing plants are now paving the way for new medical technologies, battery-powered cars, alternative power solutions, freshwater science and the “Internet of Things.”
The Milwaukee Region flourishes with close to 50,000 businesses and a gross economic product of $135 billion. It is fueled by a healthy balance of long-time manufacturing icons, including Johnson Controls, Rockwell Automation and Northwestern Mutual to next-generation companies such as Zywave and Direct Supply.
There are many reasons why so many multi-national companies call the Milwaukee Region home, why entrepreneurs choose Milwaukee to set up shop, and why Forbes magazine has ranked Milwaukee one of the top ten communities for young professionals. It also has one of the nation’s highest concentrations per capita of best companies to work for, according to the Great Places to Work Institute.
The region promotes diversity. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Region of Choice initiative, for example, seeks to increase the minority talent employed at area companies.
Manufacturing remains an important engine for the region’s economy. The region is a national leader in the production of industrial controls, steel foundry parts, engines and mining machinery. It also is a leader in the production of medical diagnostic equipment.
Health care and social assistance, professional and business services, retail trade, hospitality and food services, and finance/insurance are among the largest service-sector segments in the region.
Five Milwaukee-area service companies are ranked as Fortune 500 companies: ManpowerGroup, Northwestern Mutual, and WEC Energy Group (Milwaukee); Kohl’s Corp. (Menomonee Falls); and Fiserv (Brookfield).
For a more detailed description of the region’s business community, contact the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (mmac.org) and request a copy of Navigate Business MKE.
Finding a Job
In addition to many online recruitment services, the state offers free services through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, a state agency charged with delivering effective and inclusive services to meet the state’s diverse workforce needs. It provides job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work through its statewide network of Jobs Centers. For information, visit: jobcenterofwisconsin.com
Networking
The Milwaukee Region offers a variety of networking opportunities, including:
FUEL Milwaukee: A community-engagement program for young professionals and new Milwaukee residents that develops programming and events around networking and socializing, civic engagement and community building, leadership and development, and volunteerism for its approximately 7,000 registered members. It also offers professional development bootcamps.fuelmilwaukee.org
Social X MKE: Engages Millennial and Generation Z in out-of-the-box social events at some of the region’s hidden gems and by curating inclusive, community-centric conversations. socialxmke.com
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.