This paper examines Milwaukee's unemployment crisis, which stood at 8 percent in August 2014, significantly higher than surrounding suburbs. The author identifies three structural barriers—limited employment services for people with disabilities, inadequate public transportation to suburban job centers, and low high school graduation rates—and proposes corresponding policy solutions: expanding the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation program, funding transit system expansion, and creating additional Job Corps centers. The analysis draws on local employment statistics, disability data, and transit patterns to demonstrate how targeted government investment in these areas could reduce unemployment citywide.
The city of Milwaukee estimated an August 2014 jobless rate of 8 percent, which compares with 4.4 percent in Wauwatosa, 5.6 percent in Waukesha, and 4.7 percent in New Berlin (Schmid, 2014). This disparity reveals a localized employment crisis that warrants targeted intervention. The unemployment rate in Milwaukee can be decreased through three primary strategies: (1) expanding the local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Program to create more employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, (2) providing local government funding for transportation to enable individuals to commute to jobs in other areas, and (3) funding additional Job Corps centers to increase high school diploma and GED attainment programs.
Approximately 40.7 percent of disabled individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 are not working (Institute, 2013). Currently, three Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) locations in Milwaukee serve individuals with disabilities who face substantial barriers to employment. The DVR was created to address the employment challenges facing people with disabilities. The program provides employment services and counseling to people with disabilities and arranges services to help individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment.
Employment opportunities are distributed unevenly throughout the Milwaukee area. Numerous employment locations are inaccessible via the Milwaukee County Transit System, preventing Milwaukee residents without personal vehicles from seeking jobs in these areas. This inequality is particularly acute in the city of Milwaukee, where 13.3 percent of workers lack access to a personal vehicle, compared with 6.1 percent of workers in Milwaukee County's suburbs (Public Policy Forum, 2013, p. 4). Jobs in suburban areas remain unreachable by the Milwaukee County Transit System, creating a significant barrier for the 13.3 percent of workers without transportation. This lack of transit access to employment opportunities directly contributes to Milwaukee's elevated unemployment rate.
In 2014, approximately one-third of jobs were in occupations that typically require postsecondary education for entry (United States Department of Labor, 2014). In today's economy, many jobs require individuals to have a high school diploma before employment. The average graduation rate in Milwaukee declined, falling to 60.6 percent for the class of 2013 from 61.8 percent for the class of 2012 (Richards, 2014). Job Corps is a free education and training program that helps individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and maintain employment.
When an individual cannot control their life because of a disability, it creates a disabling environment. However, enabling support can help individuals with disabilities maintain control over their lives, preserve independence, and protect their dignity and preferences. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is an effective program that helps individuals achieve these goals. The unemployment rate in Milwaukee can be decreased by local government creating more employment opportunities within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation program to serve individuals with disabilities. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation assists over 17,000 individuals with disabilities, and in fiscal year 2013, it helped 3,840 individuals achieve their employment goals (Newson, 2014).
Creating more jobs not only helps more individuals with disabilities feel empowered but also creates positions for counselors and other workers within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This expansion, in turn, can lower the overall unemployment rate in Milwaukee. The program demonstrates proven success in helping vulnerable populations enter the workforce and maintain employment, making it a logical target for targeted government investment in job creation.
It is difficult or impossible for workers to reach many suburban employment centers without reliable transportation. Suburbs close to Milwaukee—such as Germantown, Oconomowoc, and New Berlin—are not served by Milwaukee Transit System routes. Furthermore, the cities of Brookfield, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Oak Creek, Pewaukee, and Waukesha have limited bus lines that do not integrate with the Milwaukee Transit System. For example, Waukesha Metro Transit routes primarily serve the city of Waukesha. Waukesha Metro Transit contracts with Wisconsin Coach Lines, a private transit operator, to run several express bus routes for residents of Waukesha County communities who commute to downtown Milwaukee. However, these services are not configured to serve Milwaukee County residents traveling to work in Waukesha County (Henken, 2013).
Improving public transportation can significantly enhance mobility for those without personal vehicles in the Milwaukee area. Local government should provide funding to expand Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes and develop faster transit options, such as express bus service or rail transit. By expanding bus routes, Milwaukee residents without transportation can access employment opportunities in different suburban areas, which would help lower the unemployment rate in Milwaukee. Transit investment directly enables job access for low-income and car-free populations, addressing a concrete structural barrier.
Individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 who do not graduate from high school need an alternative pathway to earn a high school diploma or GED to qualify for employment. In today's economy, many jobs require a high school diploma before hiring. The distribution of available jobs in Wisconsin shows significant demand for workers with a high school diploma or GED credential. Employment is available for individuals within the Milwaukee area, but many individuals are not graduating in Milwaukee to qualify for these positions.
Currently, one Job Corps center operates in Milwaukee. Creating additional centers would give high school dropouts between the ages of 16 and 24 the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED, which would help them qualify for employment. Job Corps centers also teach individuals the skills they need to become employable and independent within society. According to employment data, Wisconsin ranks among the top states with the largest employment shares in occupations requiring a high school diploma or equivalent, with 41.2 percent of jobs in such occupations (United States Department of Labor, 2014). Addressing the education barrier through expanded Job Corps capacity directly targets a population facing significant employment barriers.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation program helps employ those with disabilities. By creating more employment opportunities for those with disabilities, the DVR program can serve more individuals with disabilities. Expanding the Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes can help those without transportation access employment opportunities in suburban areas. Jobs remain limited to individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent credential. Creating more Job Corps centers gives high school dropouts an opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED, which helps individuals qualify for employment. Collectively, these three strategies address the structural barriers driving Milwaukee's elevated unemployment rate and offer practical pathways to reduce joblessness citywide.
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