Wisconsin Adds 12,729 Private-Sector Jobs in Q1

Wisconsin’s private sector added a net 12,729 jobs in the first quarter of 2026, as job gains from expanding and opening businesses exceeded losses from contracting and closing establishments. Manufacturing remains central to the state economy, employing more than 465,100 people, while a Wisconsin Policy Forum report found manufacturers received over $928 million in tax exemptions, incentives and other aid in 2016; the report said the support resembles programs in neighboring states. A separate survey of 415 manufacturing executives found greater optimism about their own companies than about the broader economy, with workforce challenges still a leading concern even as inflation and supply-chain worries eased. Together, the findings point to a resilient but uncertain economic picture, with manufacturing’s employment role, public incentives and workforce needs all shaping Wisconsin’s outlook.