World-Class Talent

Our eight counties are home to more than 615,000 labor pool contributors and boasts a 1.66 workforce dependency ratio, higher than both the state and national average. Our working age population is strong and ready to fill employers’ needs both today and in the future.

Nearly 68% of adults over 25 have at least some college or an associate’s degree, while nearly 38% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Dane County alone, over 52% of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally more than 14% of adults in the Region hold a graduate or professional degree, higher than both state and national levels.

Young professionals in the Madison Region are more educated than the general population, thanks in part to an educational system that features four campuses from the University of Wisconsin system and four strong technical college systems.

The Madison Region is served by two Workforce Development Boards that forge public and private partnerships to support innovation and excellence in workforce development. Within the eight-county region, the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin serves businesses and workers in Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, and Sauk Counties, while the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board serves Green, Iowa, and Rock Counties.

Employees in the Madison Region are well connected to educational, training and job-finding resources, ensuring employers can always hire educated, skilled workers.