Economy Overview
Workforce Development Area 6 (9 Counties) | December 2025
Population (2024)
426,051
Grew by 12,750 over last 5 years.
Total Employment
213,953
Projected to grow by 3,585 next 5 years.
Avg. Earnings Per Job
$66.6K
$20.1K below national average ($86.7K).
Job Trends (2019 – 2029)
Jobs declined sharply in 2020 but are steadily recovering.
Demographics & Unemployment
Unemployment Rate: 3.11% (Aug 2025)
Unemployment by Age
Highest unemployment in 35-44 age group (22.53%)
Educational Attainment
| Level | Pop. | % Share |
|---|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 105,935 | 34.3% |
| Some College | 62,111 | 20.1% |
| Associate’s Degree | 40,015 | 13.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 54,992 | 17.8% |
| Graduate Degree | 25,074 | 8.1% |
Insight: 13.0% hold an Associate’s Degree, which is 4.1% above the national average.
Millennials (25-39)
70,927
National Avg: 87,217
Retiring Soon (55+)
164,720
High Retirement Risk
Veterans
26,460
Above Nat. Avg (20,918)
Migration & Commuting
Net Migration (2022)
Residents moving into the area vs. leaving.
Positive Growth
Top Inbound Migration (Previous County)
- Dane County, WI 629
- Milwaukee County, WI 569
- Clark County, WI 422
- Brown County, WI 334
- Waukesha County, WI 330
Top Outbound Migration (Destination)
- Dane County, WI 613
- Clark County, WI 349
- Brown County, WI 333
- Milwaukee County, WI 331
- Outagamie County, WI 295
Industry Analysis
Largest Industries (Jobs 2024)
Top Growing Industries (Jobs Added)
Business Characteristics
Top Companies (Worker Profiles)
- Marshfield Clinic 2,582
- Aspirus 1,762
- Sentry Insurance 1,286
- UW – Stevens Point 1,274
- Ascension 593
Source: Online profiles
Top Companies (Job Postings)
- Aspirus 2,712
- Marshfield Clinic 2,475
- CompHealth 746
- Aya Healthcare 651
- Walmart 473
Source: Unique Postings (Last 12 mo)
Workforce & In-Demand Skills
Largest Occupations (2024)
Top Specialized Skills (Postings)
Educational Pipeline
5,630
Total Graduates in 2024
Top Programs (Certificate)
- Nursing Assistant / Aide
- Welding Technology
- EMT Paramedic
Top Producing Institutions (2024)
- Northcentral Technical College 2,071
- UW – Stevens Point 1,922
- Mid-State Technical College 1,205
- Nicolet Area Technical College 380