Wisconsin Job Outlook: How Employment Trends Are Shifting Through the 2020s and 2030s
WISCONSIN is set to see significant changes in its employment landscape over the rest of the 2020s and into the 2030s. State forecasts show strong job growth in health care, green energy, and technology fields, while traditional clerical and support roles face steady decline.
Projected Job Growth Across the State
Long-term projections indicate Wisconsin will add over 225,000 jobs between 2022 and 2032, a 7.1% increase, bringing the total to nearly 3.4 million positions, according to the Job Center of Wisconsin.
At the same time, the working-age population is shrinking. By 2030, Wisconsin is expected to lose about 85,000 people ages 20 to 64, a demographic shift highlighted in a League of Wisconsin Municipalities analysis. This creates challenges for employers and policymakers as demand outpaces available workers.
Fastest-Growing Occupations
Several occupations are projected to expand rapidly, according to PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Watch:
- Wind turbine service technicians: projected growth of 75%
- Nurse practitioners: up 51%, adding more than 2,500 jobs
- Computer and information research scientists: growth of 44%
- Data scientists: up 43%, with over 1,200 new positions
Other surprising growth areas include travel agents (+38%) and animal trainers (+36%). These jobs show that demand is not limited to technology and health care—lifestyle and service-driven roles are also on the rise.
High-Demand Roles With Annual Openings
The state’s most in-demand jobs often reflect replacement needs rather than new growth. The leading role is home health and personal care aide, with about 14,000 annual openings, driven by an aging population and in-home care demand, according to PBS Wisconsin.
Other roles with high annual openings include retail sales positions, food service workers, and truck drivers. These highlight the continued reliance on service industries to keep Wisconsin’s economy running.
Jobs Expected to Decline
While some roles expand, others are steadily shrinking due to automation and changing business needs. Declining positions include:
- Secretaries and administrative assistants: –2,400 jobs
- Couriers and messengers: –1,900 jobs
- Customer service representatives: –1,500 jobs
- Tellers: –1,200 jobs
Even nursing assistants are projected to drop by 3%, losing around 700 jobs. These cuts reflect how modernization is reshaping employment in the state.
Technology and AI Impacts
Wisconsin’s AI Task Force, convened by Governor Tony Evers, has noted that bookkeepers, claims processors, and similar roles face higher exposure to automation, as reported by Wisconsin Watch.
Still, the state’s most common occupations are at only “moderate” risk. This suggests AI disruption will be uneven, with certain industries transformed while others remain largely unaffected.
Wisconsin’s job market is entering a period of rapid transformation. From renewable energy and data science to healthcare expansion, opportunities will continue to grow for workers ready to adapt. Visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com for more updates on employment trends, industry shifts, and local stories that shape our communities.