A newly released analysis sheds light on the economic conditions facing workers in Wisconsin as the state heads into 2025. Produced by the High Road Strategy Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the State of Working Wisconsin report draws on the latest available statistics related to employment, earnings, and union representation to illustrate how everyday laborers are experiencing the broader economy. n nLaura Dresser, associate director at the center, spoke with Joy Powers from Lake Effect about the findings. She highlighted growing concerns over federal budget reallocations that favor spending cuts, particularly those linked to programs affecting lower-income populations. In addition, Dresser pointed to weakening enforcement of workplace protections and the impact of trade and immigration policies that may hinder economic growth. n nAccording to the report, these combined factors suggest a challenging outlook for many workers, especially those in lower-wage jobs. The shift in national priorities, including reduced support for labor rights and increased reliance on tariffs, could dampen job creation and wage growth across key sectors. n n— news from WUWMnn
— News Original —nNew report offers an economic outlook for Wisconsin workers in 2025nFrom DOGE spending cuts and near-constant shifts in U.S. trade policy, to the “Big Beautiful Bill,” mass deportations and more, it has been an unpredictable year for the U.S. economy. But this year’s State of Working Wisconsin report explores what it’s really looked like for workers across our state and what the future could hold. n nCompiled by UW-Madison ‘s High Road Strategy Center, the report “analyzes the most recent data available on wages, jobs and unions to provide clear information on the economy as experienced by the working people of the state.” n nLaura Dresser is the associate director of the center, and she joins Lake Effect’s Joy Powers to explore the findings of the report. n n”You see this massive redistribution in the federal budget, this massive walking away from enforcing labor standards or allowing workers their rights at the federal level and you see these tarriff and anti-immigration policies that are going to slow the economy down,” Dresser says. “And that picture together has me very concerned about what’s to come.”