TUE AM News: Biohealth workforce project aims to drive interest in the field; Talking Trade with Kurt Bauer, WMC

July 23, 2024

— A state biohealth workforce project aims to drive interest in the field, provide specialized training, fill job openings with skilled workers and more.

That’s according to Mark Thomas, chief strategy officer for Madison Area Technical College and leader of the Actualizing Biohealth Career Pathways project, one of several key initiatives getting funding through the state Tech Hub effort.

He spoke yesterday during a press conference at Milwaukee Area Technical College celebrating the state’s Tech Hub designation recently landing $49 million in federal funding. The ABC Pathways effort is getting $12.5 million in federal dollars and $1.5 million in state matching funds, and aims to train and place 2,000 workers in biohealth jobs within five years.

Project partners including both technical colleges, the Universities of Wisconsin, the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin and Employ Milwaukee will conduct “career interest marketing efforts” along with training programs and employer matchmaking within the biohealth industry.

“These are jobs in a variety of imaging technologies, like radiological technologies, X-rays, MRIs … laboratory technicians, and CNC operators,” he said. “CNC, meaning computer numerical control. These are the people who are highly skilled at programming and maintaining the digital technologies that make our advanced biohealth manufacturing equipment work.”

The scope of the project was established with help from industry and academic partners including GE Healthcare, UW Health, Rockwell Automation, Exact Sciences, Accuray, Plexus, the Medical College of Wisconsin and others, Thomas said.

Along with getting more young people to explore postsecondary education options related to biohealth, the project will also support existing workers in the industry “who wish to enhance their skills” and advance their careers.

Meanwhile, BioForward Wisconsin CEO Lisa Johnson said the state “must take action” to leverage the opportunities presented by the federal Tech Hub designation.

“It’s these opportunities that demonstrate to the nation what we already know,” she said yesterday. “Look to Wisconsin to build and secure this nation. Wisconsin has many strengths in key industries, from our water, our energy, food and beverage, agriculture, defense manufacturing, and our advanced precision manufacturers that our biohealth industry is dependent upon.”

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is touting the potential for personalized medicine advancements as part of the state’s regional Tech Hub efforts.

Speaking yesterday at the MATC press conference, she said the funding will impact “Wisconsin workers, Wisconsin jobs and our Wisconsin economy.”

State officials project the designation will directly create more than 30,000 jobs in the personalized medicine sector and more than 111,000 indirect jobs over the first 10 years of the effort. During that time frame, the Tech Hub is expected to create $9 billion in economic development in the state.

As a result of these impacts on personalized medicine and the overall biohealth sector, Baldwin said the effort will “really move the needle on how people get health care,” enabling patients to get the care they need earlier.

“While each of us is uniquely different, from our genetics to our habits and our environment, the health care we get is often one-size-fits-all,” said Baldwin, D-Madison. “Personalized medicine will change that, and tailor that, the care that each of us gets uniquely based on our individual characteristics.”

Gov. Tony Evers yesterday said “now is an exciting time for new business development” in Wisconsin, and called the Tech Hub designation “pivotal” for building a modern economy and workforce. He also praised Baldwin’s work in getting the CHIPS and Science Act passed, as the legislation included $500 million for the Tech Hub program.

“This Tech Hub would not have happened without Sen. Baldwin … As everybody here knows, Wisconsin’s multi-billion dollar biohealth industry is a huge economic driver that supports tens of thousands of jobs across the great state of Wisconsin,” he said.

See details on the state’s Tech Hub effort here and see more in a release.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

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— In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President and CEO Kurt Bauer discusses export challenges for companies in the state and how they’re addressing them.

“We are still seeing a hangover effect from COVID, supply chains for some are still tangled,” he said. “But most have solved that problem. Most of our members are telling us that they have resolved supply chain challenges. Inflation, however, I still blame on COVID.”

He tied ongoing inflation to the “trillions in government stimulus that was pumped into the economy,” adding it remains a major issue for businesses.

Bauer weighs in on demographic trends driving workforce shortages, noting WMC is increasingly hearing that companies are expanding outside of Wisconsin rather than within, “because they need a long-term pipeline of workers” that the state can’t supply.

The interview covers tariffs and global shipping lane disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East as well as geopolitical instability linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine and tensions between China and Taiwan. It also highlights opportunities for selling products to growing markets in Asia and Africa.

Talking Trade is hosted by E.M Wasylik Associates Managing Director Ken Wasylik and M.E. Dey & Co. President and Managing Director Sandi Siegel.

Watch the full episode here.

“Talking Trade” is now available in audio form on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and other platforms. Subscribe and find more episodes here.

— Wisconsin saw stronger earnings growth than any other state in February, March and May, officials announced.

Gov. Tony Evers and the state Department of Workforce Development yesterday released figures on Wisconsin’s inflation-adjusted hourly earnings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Year-over-year growth in this measure was 7.9% for February, 6.4% for March and 6.2% for May, according to the release.

The announcement also notes April’s growth figure of 4.4% was No. 2 in the nation.

Average statewide hourly earnings hit $33.76 in May thanks to these increases, the release shows. By metro area, Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis had the highest earnings at $34.97, followed by Madison’s rate of $34.48 and Eau Claire’s rate of $31.63.

See the release.

— Marquette University is searching for its next president following former leader Michael Lovell passing away last month.

The Milwaukee-based university’s board of trustees has started the nationwide search for candidates to become Marquette’s 25th president, according to yesterday’s announcement.

Todd Adams, the board’s chair, will lead the search committee that also includes 10 other leaders within the school. The committee will be working with national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for a forward-thinking, mission-oriented leader who is at once strategic and creative and who will demonstrate a firm commitment to Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission, vision and values,” Adams said in a statement.

See the release.

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