New Study Ranks Wisconsin 20th In Nation For Tech Employment

A study by the Computing Technology Industry Association ranked Wisconsin 20th in the nation for tech industry employment last year. Tech industry employment rose 4 percent from 2015 to 2016.

The study also found 3 percent of Wisconsin’s workforce is in the tech industry. Preston Grisham, with the association, said there are still a lot of open jobs in tech and many don’t require a bachelor’s degree.

“It doesn’t necessarily require a four-year degree to get into,” Grisham said. “A lot of folks can go in with a two-year associates degree or working at a two-year technical college and coming out with certification and go into a workforce that has an abundance of job openings.”

The study also ranked Wisconsin fifth in the country for the number of women employed in the tech sector.

Grisham said this is due to companies in the state making an effort to diversify their workforce.

Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, said all students should be exposed to career opportunities in tech for the state to maintain and improve its standing.

“We have to make sure our colleges, universities and tech colleges are all open to the kind of career opportunities that they present to their students,” Still said. “In Wisconsin, we’re seeing more women in higher education in general and I think that’s being reflected in the workforce.”

Wisconsin was ranked 40th in the nation in innovation per capita. An assessment that looks at the number of tech patents granted combined with new tech businesses and startups.

Still said Wisconsin must also continue to attract talent from outside of the state to help deal with the looming workforce shortage.