MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address highlighting his 2024 State of the State address and his declaration of 2024 as the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin. The governor’s address is available to watch here and here.

Audio File of Radio Address

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.

This week, I delivered my sixth State of the State address, where I declared 2024 the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin and announced my plan to address some of the pressing issues facing our state. 

And chief among them is addressing our state’s workforce challenges and making sure our workforce is prepared to meet the needs of a 21st-century economy.

Last year, we saw a record-low unemployment and record-high labor force participation, but much work needs to be done to address our state’s workforce challenges.

I announced 2024 is the Year of the Worker in Wisconsin, and my administration is going to keep working to bolster our state’s workforce through a new Healthcare Workforce Task Force to find long-term solutions to address our healthcare industry shortages; a new Teacher Apprenticeship pathway to allow new educators to “earn while they learn”; and a new Office of State Employee Engagement and Retention to ensure that the state of Wisconsin is leading the way by example in recruiting and retaining talented workers.

Solving our state’s workforce challenges is going to take all of us working together, and several things are key.

We must expand paid leave, invest in public education at every level, from early childhood to our technical colleges and universities, and find a long-term solution to our state’s looming child care crisis.

Folks, lack of accessible, affordable child care is a statewide workforce issue.

Republicans are on the clock to develop a comprehensive workforce plan, including making the meaningful investments necessary to prevent the collapse of our child care industry, which is essential for maintaining our current levels of workforce participation.

Wisconsin, we’ve proven this in the past year that we can do big things if we’re willing to do them together.

I know we can build upon these efforts in 2024, and together we will.

Let’s get back at it, and let’s get to work.

Thank you, and take care.