Wisconsin is up to fourth in state rankings for construction business climate, according to the 2023 Associated Builders and Contractors’ Merit Shop Scorecard. Only Georgia (1), Florida (2), and Arkansas (3), are ahead of Wisconsin, with Indiana (5) rounding out the top five. In 2022, Wisconsin dropped to 11th after ranking fifth in 2021.
The scorecard, released yearly since 2015, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on state policies and programs that strengthen career pathways in construction, encourage workforce development, and advocate for fair and open competition on taxpayer-funded construction projects. The scorecard also identifies states where economic improvements are needed. The rankings are based on seven criteria: project labor agreements, prevailing wage laws, right-to-work laws, public-private partnerships, workforce development, career and technical education, and job growth rate.
Wisconsin’s grade in the area of workforce development jumped from a “D” in 2022 to a “B” in 2023. The state’s grade for career and technical education also rose from a “B” to an “A.” However, the job growth rate dipped from a “B” to a “C.”
The top states have strong workforce development systems. Wisconsin has invested in adult registered apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and the return of technical education in high schools.
