— A state economist is urging members of the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence to consider how the technology will disrupt high-paying jobs.
Department of Workforce Development Economist Scott Hodek spoke yesterday during an online meeting of the task force’s subcommittee on industries, occupations and skills. He said AI is expected to impact occupations across the income scale in Wisconsin, including those that have relatively high pay such as software developers and research analysts.
By comparison, the impact of automation — another disruptive technology — has been more focused on low-income workers like cashiers, he said.
“If it does end up replacing some of those higher-income occupations like engineers, that actually will have a pretty big impact … That’s something that this committee and all of us will probably have to keep in mind,” he said.
While the level of “exposure” to potential AI disruption is higher in certain fields such as computer science and mathematics, that doesn’t mean all of those jobs will be replaced entirely, Hodek noted. In many cases, the technology is expected to play a larger role in assisting and supporting human expertise rather than rendering it obsolete.
For some employers, using AI tools can help raise lower-performing employees up to a higher level of performance, according to Hodek, improving productivity and reducing costs. For many workers, the nature of their occupation will change as some skills become less relevant while others gain importance.
Still, Danielle Williams, assistant administrator of division of employment and training at DWD, highlighted the “strong likelihood” that many jobs will be replaced entirely or in part by both AI and automation.
“And so, employers really need to adapt to be competitive by investing in new equipment to meet market demands and customer expectations,” she said during yesterday’s meeting. “While workers and job seekers are going to need to develop new skills to stay relevant and employable.”
While the task force is meant to help prepare the state economy and workforce for widespread adoption of AI, Hodek said predicting which occupations will be most affected is a difficult task.
“That shouldn’t really surprise anyone,” he said. “This is the sort of thing that happens with a rapidly evolving, disruptive technology.”
Watch a video of the meeting here: https://wiseye.org/2023/11/20/governors-task-force-on-workforce-and-artificial-intelligence-industries-occupations-and-skills-subcommittee/
See more coverage of the task force: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/evers-task-force-on-workforce-ai-holds-first-meeting/
— Wisconsin in October had its first year-over-year increase in new home listings in nearly two years, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association.
In its report covering last month, released yesterday, WRA announced new listings in October rose 2% over the year. That’s the first annual increase since February 2022 when new listings got a 1.1% bump.
Total listings rose to 17,788 homes in October — 4.3% below the number for October of last year.
“The largest source of housing supply by far comes from sellers listing existing homes, so it is encouraging to see our new listings grow on a year-over-year basis,” WRA Board Chair Joe Horning said in a statement. “Hopefully this trend continues and leads to more affordable options for first-time buyers in the coming year.”
Still, monthly home sales were 7.2% lower over the year, falling from 6,392 to 5,932. And year-to-date home sales saw an even larger decline, falling 20% from 67,571 to 54,045.
At the same time, the median home price increased 7.7% over the year, rising from $260,000 to $280,000.
WRA President and CEO Mike Theo says the current situation represents a challenging market for buyers, but highlights the slight improvement to supply as a good sign.
“Price pressure typically softens a bit in the off-peak season because there are typically fewer competitors during the late fall and winter months,” he said.
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-realtors-association-continuing-tight-inventories-and-off-peak-season-limit-home-sale/
See the full report here: https://www.wra.org/HSROct2023/
— Dollar General paid an $850,006 penalty to settle hundreds of allegations the company overcharged customers and failed to refund the difference.
This spring, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection conducted inspections over 11 days at 238 stores in Wisconsin. The review found customers overpaid by about 17% at the register compared to advertised prices, according to a press release.
Wisconsin law requires merchants refund at least the difference between posted and charged prices, and merchants must post signage about the law. DATCP alleged 45 Dollar General stores were missing the signage initially, and eight stores still lacked displays when inspectors followed up.
DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski said accurate pricing is “among the most basic and essential protections consumers have.”
“Consumers should be able to trust that the prices advertised to them are accurate, and they have a right to be informed of the laws protecting them,” he added.
A Dollar General spokesperson told WisPolitics the company “is committed to providing customers with accurate prices on items purchased in our stores, and we are disappointed any time we fail to deliver on this commitment.”
“When a pricing discrepancy is identified, our store teams are empowered to correct the matter on the spot for our customers,” the spokesperson added. “We have appreciated the constructive approach to resolving this matter with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.”
DATCP spokesperson Caleb Kulich told WisPolitics $551,941 of the penalty will go into the state’s common school fund to benefit public education while the remainder will be used to help pay off consumer protection, jail, crime lab, law enforcement and other surcharges.
State and municipal inspectors from Appleton, Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Menasha, Milwaukee, Reedsburg and South Milwaukee also found customers were overcharged for 662 products of the 7,344 they checked, which means customers overpaid for about 9% of products sold, according to the release.
The news comes after Dollar General in a 2018 settlement over similar allegations paid $10,586. DATCP between 2018 and this year’s inspection found Dollar General failed to meet the national standard of 98% or greater price accuracy during 76 of its 89 routine price accuracy inspections.
Dollar General is working to correct the issue by instituting internal accuracy checks at every Wisconsin store at least every 45 days, according to DATCP.
The $27 billion chain with nearly 20,000 stores nationwide has also spent about $70,000 in Wisconsin to verify price accuracy since January and expects to spend about $300,000 a year to support price accuracy in the state moving forward, according to the release.
See the release:
— The advocacy group Lakes at Stake Wisconsin is touting the support of leaders in the state’s fishing community.
The organization aims to ban “wake enhanced” boating on most Wisconsin lakes, arguing the large waves it creates are reducing lakefront property values and disrupting tourism. The group of property owners, conservationists and anglers has launched a lobbying effort to change state law.
In a release from the group, Walleyes for Tomorrow State Chairman Mike Arrowood yesterday highlighted “troubling” reports from around the state related to wake enhanced boating.
“Many underwater humps and reefs that previously held beneficial vegetation are now bare,” he said. “Vegetative flats are also getting destroyed. Of further concern is a potential decline in needed dissolved oxygen levels, due to sediment disruption. We need action, and now.”
Meanwhile, Hayward-based professional fisherman, TV show host and author Pete Maina is also weighing in on the issue.
“I thought these boats a nuisance to some degree (though all share the water). But the habitat destruction issue is big–removal of deeper weedbeds is horrible for fisheries,” he said in the Lakes at Stake release.
See more on the effort in a recent story: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/advocacy-group-pushing-for-regulations-on-wake-enhanced-boating/
— The Uniquely Wisconsin brand was recognized at the 65th Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards for its promotional video, “Farm to Table Pizzas: The Little Red Barn.”
The video, focused on Stoney Acres Farm in Marathon County, was selected as the top submission in the category, Outstanding Achievement for Lifestyle – Short & Long Form Content. It highlights the farm’s farm-to-table pizza experience, as well as the history of the business and community impacts.
Uniquely Wisconsin was created by Madison-based production company Discover Mediaworks alongside the Wisconsin Counties Association and other state officials, according to the release.
Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard said “we are thrilled” that the video was selected for the award.
“Agriculture is a fundamental driver of Marathon County’s economy and plays a vital role across Wisconsin,” Leonhard said in a statement. The transformation of Stoney Acres, a multi-generational farm, into a dynamic community attraction has been truly remarkable.”
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e4DB8IfDvs
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/uniquely-wisconsin-video-wins-at-65th-annual-chicago-midwest-emmy-awards-2/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Seven organizations offering mental health care to veterans are getting $474,407 in new funding, the state Department of Veterans Affairs announced.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# Are robots taking Wisconsin jobs? Not quite, new research shows
# Fetch bootcamp teaches Madison high schoolers how to use AI for good
# Evers vetoes GOP’s $2 billion tax cut and child care credit expansion
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin detects HPAI in backyard flock
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1012&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Alto-Shaam breaks ground on 100,000-square-foot HQ expansion first announced in 2019
# ECONOMY
– $2B Wisconsin income tax cut vetoed, slammed by Evers
# EDUCATION
– Is UWGB headed toward the same fate as UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside and others?
# FOOD & BEVERAGE
– JustVeggiez on State gives mock meat a global spin
# HEALTH CARE
– Underage purchases of tobacco products are on the rise
– 10th cohort of UW Health program graduates to next chapter
# INSURANCE
– Crop insurance premium rebates for cover crops
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1013&yr=2023
# MANAGEMENT
– Kohl’s president Dave Alves leaves after less than one year with the company
– Kohl’s president Dave Alves departs company
# MEDIA
– Channel 4 hires Brookfield native Tyler Moore as morning meteorologist
# POLITICS
– Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’
# REAL ESTATE
– After going on a Milwaukee home-buying spree, this company is losing millions. Now what?
– GE HealthCare to consolidate Milwaukee, Wauwatosa locations into Waukesha campus
– Neenah’s Arrowhead Park plan shows amphitheater, rooftop restaurant on the waterfront
# RETAIL
– New Whole Foods Madison store to open in December
# SMALL BUSINESS
– Roll Foods goes big on Willy Street with giant spring rolls
# TECHNOLOGY
– GE HealthCare, UW-Madison sign 10-year pact to advance health tech research
# TRANSPORTATION
– Post-covid ‘revenge travel’ is booming
# COLUMNS
– Viewpoints: Engineers work in many disciplines and sectors; Wisconsin needs more of them
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Milwaukee Press Club: MMAC President Dale Kooyenga to headline Newsmaker Luncheon
