Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

What Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development does

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a Wisconsin executive-branch state agency that administers the state's workforce, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, vocational rehabilitation, equal rights, and employment and training programs. It operates through six divisions (Employment and Training, Equal Rights, Administrative Services, Unemployment Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Workers Compensation) and is led by Secretary Amy Pechacek under Governor Tony Evers. The agency serves all Wisconsin residents and employers through a hybrid delivery model combining a statewide network of physical Job Centers, a Mobile Career Lab, and digital portals.

The agency's technology stack centers on the Job Center of Wisconsin online portal (job search, resume tools, and employer job posting), the MyWisconsin ID single sign-on system, the UI online claims platform, multiple employer-facing portals (UI Employer Portal, UI Payment Portal, EDI/SIDES), the Insurer Portal for workers compensation, the Equal Rights Division Case Portal, the DVR Online Referral System, and the DET Application Portal for partners. Funding flows through Wisconsin state appropriations and federal grants (e.g., WIOA Title I, Stevens Amendment funding, $2.6M Veteran Employment and Training Services grant), with services delivered at no cost to Wisconsin residents, employers, and injured workers. The department is modernizing a decades-old mainframe and deploying new digital portals, with Wisconsin's labor force participation running at least 2 percentage points above the national average and Veteran Employment Services ranked Top 5 nationally for three consecutive years.

Name

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Legal name

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Website

https://dwd.wisconsin.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is a state executive agency that administers unemployment insurance, workers compensation, equal rights, vocational rehabilitation, and employment and training programs for Wisconsin residents, employers, and injured workers through statewide Job Centers and integrated digital portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Workforce Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (9231), Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration (BPAIABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Workforce Benefits Administration (Enrollment & Deductions) (BPACAIAF), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Unemployment insurance administration
• Workers compensation services
• Workforce development programs
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Employment training grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: DWD is a state government agency funded through Wisconsin state appropriations and federal grants. Federal funding disclosure (Stevens Amendment) acknowledges federal funding sources for UI programs and projects. Veteran Employment and Training Services are 100% federally funded ($2,632,547). Tiger Team grant for UI community outreach was 100% federally financed.
2. Work Opportunity Tax Credit Administration: DWD administers the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program which provides tax incentives for employers to hire individuals from target groups facing barriers to employment. Credits up to $2,400 per new hire, up to $9,000 for Long-Term Family Assistance recipients over two years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is a state government agency that administers workforce development programs including unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, equal rights enforcement, vocational rehabilitation, and employment and training services for Wisconsin residents and employers. It connects job seekers and employers through the Job Center of Wisconsin, pays unemployment benefits, resolves workers' compensation disputes, investigates discrimination complaints, and provides vocational rehabilitation and workforce training grants.

Product overview

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development operates a multi-platform portfolio of workforce development services organized into six divisions: Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Equal Rights, Employment & Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Administrative Services. The department's digital products include the Job Center of Wisconsin job portal, MyWisconsin ID identity management system, WisConomy labor market information platform, multiple online portals for UI filing/employer services, worker's compensation insurance systems, vocational rehabilitation referral tools, and various grant management systems (WisTRAIN, WIG: HEART, Wisconsin Fast Forward). The agency also maintains the Equal Rights Division Case Portal, DVR Online Referral System, and DET Application Portal for partners and staff. These products collectively serve job seekers, employers, employees, and community partners across Wisconsin's workforce ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Center of Wisconsin Free online job-matching platform that connects Wisconsin job seekers with employers and allows posting of resumes and job openings.
• Unemployment Insurance Program Administers unemployment claims, benefit payments, and adjudication for Wisconsin workers who have lost employment through no fault of their own.
• Workers' Compensation Division Services Administers Wisconsin's workers' compensation program, including dispute resolution, hearing scheduling, and benefits adjudication for injured workers.
• Equal Rights Division Services Investigates and resolves complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, and enforces state labor standards and wage payment laws.
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Provides employment counseling, training, and job placement services for Wisconsin residents with disabilities to support competitive, integrated employment.
• Division of Employment and Training Programs Administers workforce development programs including apprenticeships, job center operations, WIOA Youth and Adult programs, and specialized employment services for veterans, justice-involved individuals, and dislocated workers.
• Wisconsin Fast Forward Worker training grant program providing funding to Wisconsin employers, consortiums, and training providers to develop and implement customized worker training programs.
• WisConnect Internship Portal Online portal connecting Wisconsin students and employers for internship opportunities.
• Mobile Career Lab Mobile workforce service unit that brings job search, training, and career counseling resources to underserved communities across Wisconsin.
• MyWisconsin ID Single sign-on identity service providing users access to multiple DWD online portals and applications.
• WisConomy Labor market information platform providing wage data, employment statistics, and industry information for Wisconsin.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wisconsin unemployment rate at 3.3% as of June 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Job Center NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDWD is a proud partner of the American Job Center network, providing standardized workforce development services aligned with national workforce innovation standards. The Job Center of Wisconsin branding incorporates the American Job Center logo, connecting Wisconsin's workforce services to the national system.
• Department of Public Instruction (DPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency agreement between DVR and DPI for coordination of vocational rehabilitation services with public education, including transition services for students with disabilities and school liaison programs.
• Department of Health Services (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency agreements covering coordination with Division of Family Supports, Wisconsin Works (W-2), and programs serving individuals with disabilities including Blind or Visually Impaired Resources and Deaf/Deaf-Blind & Hard of Hearing Resources.
• University of Wisconsin SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for coordination of vocational rehabilitation services with state university system, supporting educational and career pathways for individuals with disabilities.
• Wisconsin Technical College SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for coordination of vocational rehabilitation services with technical colleges, providing training and education pathways for individuals with disabilities seeking workforce entry or advancement.
• Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council (WRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council providing oversight and guidance for vocational rehabilitation programs, ensuring consumer involvement and program effectiveness.
• Client Assistance Program (CAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for provision of advocacy and assistance services to DVR consumers, helping individuals navigate the vocational rehabilitation process and address concerns.
• Section 121 American Indian VR ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreements with tribal vocational rehabilitation programs including College of Menominee Nation VR Project, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC), Lac Courte Oreilles VR, and Oneida Nation VR Project for culturally appropriate services to Native American individuals with disabilities.
• Governor's Council on Workforce Investment (CWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level council guiding workforce development programs and policies, providing strategic direction for WIOA Title I programs and workforce initiatives.
• WIOA Title I Service ProviderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of service providers delivering WIOA Title I programs including ASSET, CEPT, JCW Business, RRETS, and SOLAR providers serving job seekers and employers across Wisconsin.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Workforce Commission: Texas's state agency administering unemployment benefits, workforce development, and apprenticeship programs under a commission governance model. Operates Workforce Solutions offices across Texas in the same way DWD operates Wisconsin Job Centers.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Pennsylvania's state labor agency administering unemployment compensation, workforce development, workers' compensation, and vocational rehabilitation. Closely aligned six-function structure similar to DWD's portfolio.
• Florida Department of Commerce: Florida's state workforce agency administering unemployment compensation, workforce training, veteran employment, and labor market information through a statewide office network. Comparable scope to DWD with similar digital portal infrastructure.
• California Employment Development Department: California's state workforce agency administering UI, job service, workforce training, and disability employment programs with a similar multi-division structure. Most directly comparable state DWD-equivalent by scope and statutory role.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Ohio's state agency administering unemployment compensation, workforce development, and vocational rehabilitation programs across county offices. Direct peer in delivering WIOA-aligned services and operating a county-based service delivery network.
• New York State Department of Labor: New York's state labor agency administering UI, workforce development, training programs, and labor standards enforcement. Closely aligned service portfolio with comparable UI caseload scale and Job Center-style network.
• Indiana Department of Workforce Development: Indiana's identically-named state workforce development agency, providing UI, workforce training, apprenticeship, and labor market information through a parallel organizational structure to Wisconsin DWD.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: Minnesota's state agency combining workforce development, unemployment insurance, and vocational rehabilitation services. Regional Midwest peer with overlapping programs including DVR-equivalent disability employment services.
• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity: Michigan's consolidated labor and economic agency providing UI, workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, and civil rights enforcement under a unified structure. Midwest regional peer with similar industrial-economy workforce focus.

Others

• CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor): Federally-sponsored job search and workforce development portal that partners with DWD and other state agencies. Functions as an enabling/ecosystem layer above state DWDs rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiworkforce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wiworkforce
• Facebookfacebook.com/WIWorkforce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiworkforce
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiworkforce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development