§ 6.3. Employment Forecast and Economic Trends

An important feature of determining the economic health and future of Clark County and its communities is to determine the amounts and types of jobs currently available as well as making predictions for the future.

In January of 2001, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD) released a publication titled Wisconsin Projections, 1998-2008. This publication makes economic projections for the state regarding the labor force, industries, and occupations. Many of the forecasts made for the state will most likely occur at the community or at least the county level.

During the next several years, Wisconsin's population is projected to grow slower and older than the nation as a whole, therefore leading to lower participation rates in the workforce. Wisconsin is also having difficulty attracting international immigrants, domestic migrants, and retaining its own citizens. Wisconsin will continue to face challenges of filling job openings. The five industries that are projected to increase in the most jobs from 1998 to 2008 are business services, health services, educational services, social services, and miscellaneous retail stores. The top five occupations in Wisconsin with the greatest expected job openings from 1998 to 2008 are cashiers, retail salespersons, waiters and waitresses, general office clerks, and general manager/top executives. The five fastest growing occupations for the projected period in Wisconsin are desktop publishing specialists, computer support specialists, systems analysts, paralegals and legal assistants, and geologists, geophysicists, and oceanographers.

Clark County will continue to be a state leader in milk production.

According to the Clark County Economic Development Director, the Clark County economy and employment base will most likely continue in the same directions it has been heading in the past. Agricultural and food kindred products processing/manufacturing will continue to be a major employment segment. These types of industries, which fit well and strive in Clark County, will continue to be promoted.