Good News About the Wisconsin Economy

Wisconsin ranks above the nation's top states for economic growth in the following areas:

Recent gains:

• With a record $19.2 billion in exports for 2007, Wisconsin moved from 21st in 2006 to 19th among the states in annual export volume.
• In patents issued per 1,000 workers, Wisconsin moved from 28th in 1998-2000 to 17th in 2004-06
• In foreign direct investment as a percentage of the workforce, Wisconsin moved from 34th in 1999 to 29th in 2003-05.

General performance

• Wisconsin's economy remains resilient, showing growth in personal income and employment, according to the quarterly Wisconsin Economic Outlook, and steady growth is expected to continue into 2008.
• Wisconsin firms raised more venture capital in 2007---$87.6 million---than in any other year since 2001, according to PriceWaterhouse Coopers. The 2006 total was approximately $75.0 million
• Western Builder projects the total value of construction in the state to reach $5.4 billion, up 10.3 percent from $4.9 billion in 2007. Transportation work will reach $630 million, up 4.1 percent from $605 million in 2007. Building construction is expected to rise by 14.6 percent in 2008, reaching $4.01 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in 2007. This category includes all buildings except single-family homes
• Wisconsin personal income rose 5.3 percent in 2006 and is expected to grow a healthy 5.2percent in 2007. Wisconsin continues to outperform the region in personal income, ahead of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
• Wisconsin continues to add jobs. November 2007 showed an increase of 12,400 jobs over November 2006. Private sector jobs increased 21,000 over that time period, while government jobs decreased 8,600.
• Wisconsin's manufacturing sector grew by 2,260 jobs in the past three years. Over the same period, national manufacturing employment declined by 114,670 jobs.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Commerce research