Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 04, 2026
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Labor Day Column: DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, won through the efforts of labor unions who understood a simple truth: the American economy runs on the American worker.

Over the years, its meaning has drifted. It's the last real weekend of summer, the return of the school year, the final gasp of pools and lawnmowers before autumn takes over. But to me, this holiday belongs to every worker who feels the relief of a three-day weekend — because, like the weekend itself, it was built by workers, for workers.

A job is a paycheck. It's identity, purpose, and pride. In Wisconsin, it's also a promise — that if you work hard, you should be able to build a good life for your family.

Each year, the Department of Workforce Development helps nearly 200 young people with disabilities land their first jobs through a nine-month training program tied to their senior year of high school. They work in hospitals, zoos, and waterparks — real jobs with real responsibility. At graduation, they talk about what they've learned: funny stories about coworkers, confidence earned through effort, friendships forged in shared exhaustion. They discover what all of us eventually learn — that work connects us to something bigger than ourselves. A hospital doesn't save a life through one person's task list. It saves lives through the collective force of many hands, working together.

That is what Labor Day celebrates: the quiet miracle of shared effort, and the pride of a job done right.

Since his first day in office, Governor Tony Evers has fought to knock down barriers to work and connect Wisconsin talent with opportunity. Together, we've driven four straight years of record-breaking apprenticeship participation — both registered and youth apprenticeships. In 2024, the Year of the Worker, nearly every labor market indicator in Wisconsin hit an all-time high.

But we're not done. Not even close.

In every budget, Governor Evers has proposed common-sense reforms that other states have already embraced — reforms that would materially help working families right now:

Unemployment Insurance: When a plant closes, or a worker loses her job through no fault of her own, Wisconsin pays a maximum weekly benefit of just $370. Iowa pays up to $644 — or $790 with dependents. This isn't charity or even taxpayer funds; it's insurance, paid from a dedicated employer contribution that already holds $2.2 billion. Wisconsin workers have earned better.
Minimum Wage: Wisconsin's minimum wage has been frozen at $7.25 since 2009. Sixteen years. No state should ask its workers to get by on wages set before smartphones were common.
Paid Family Leave: No parent should have to choose between caring for a newborn — or a dying parent — and paying rent. Wisconsin needs a state paid family and medical leave program. It's not a radical idea; it's a proven one, already working in states across the country. It keeps families together during life's hardest and most joyful moments, and it keeps workers connected to their jobs instead of forcing impossible choices. Supporting working families is supporting our economy.

I hope you all enjoy a relaxing weekend. But when Tuesday morning comes, my job — as part of Governor Evers' administration — remains the same: fight for an economy that works as hard for its people as they work for it.

That's not just policy. That's Wisconsin's promise to its workers.

ABOUT DWD

Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.