Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

What Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development does

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a state government agency under the executive authority of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with offices in Madison and Milwaukee and service coverage across all 72 Wisconsin counties. The agency administers six operating divisions: Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Equal Rights (labor standards and civil rights enforcement), Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and Administrative Services. Its three primary customer bases are Wisconsin job seekers, Wisconsin employers, and Wisconsin employees, each served through a mix of in-person Job Centers, the Job Center of Wisconsin online portal, the WisConnect internship portal, and the WisConomy labor market data platform. Identity and access are unified via MyWisconsin ID, a single sign-on for multiple Wisconsin state applications and DWD services. DWD also operates a Mobile Career Lab for outreach and a communication footprint spanning website, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Core technology assets include UI online claims systems, the Job Center of Wisconsin portal, MyWisconsin ID authentication, WisConnect internship matching, WisTRAIN and Wisconsin Fast Forward grant management tools, the DVR referral system, and integrations with SIDES (State Information Data Exchange System) for UI employer responses, EDI/IAIABC for workers' compensation insurer transmissions, and Google Translate for multilingual website access. DWD has flagged implementation of machine learning and multi-language translation as part of an ongoing modernization of legacy mainframe systems, and announced a new UI Employer Portal targeted for later 2026.

DWD's business model is non-commercial: it is funded by a combination of federal grants (Wagner-Peyser, WIOA, Veterans Employment and Training, UI administration), employer-paid unemployment insurance taxes, and State General Purpose Revenue appropriations. Services to job seekers and employees are provided free of charge; employer UI tax obligations are statutory rather than discretionary, with quarterly billing cadence. The agency earns no revenue from product sales, has no venture or institutional shareholders, and operates under the oversight of the Governor and Wisconsin state legislature. Total budget, appropriations, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed in the standard commercial sense.

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 government agency operating through six divisions (Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Equal Rights, Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Administrative Services) to deliver workforce services to Wisconsin job seekers, employers, and employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIABAN

State/Provincial Labor, Employment Standards & Workforce Development Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/State/Provincial & Regional Government Administration

SECONDARYBPACAIAF

Workforce Benefits Administration (Enrollment & Deductions)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Payroll Services & Workforce Administration

SECONDARYEDAAAOAF

Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Unemployment insurance administration
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Worker's compensation management
• Labor standards enforcement

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Funding: DWD receives substantial federal funding for workforce development programs including Wagner-Peyser, WIOA, and unemployment insurance administration. Veterans Employment and Training Services program is 100% federally funded at $2,632,547.
2. Unemployment Insurance Taxes: Employers pay UI taxes that fund unemployment benefit payments to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.
3. State General Purpose Revenue: State appropriations support DWD operations and programs not fully funded by federal sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a state government agency that administers Wisconsin's workforce development programs through six divisions: Employment & Training, Equal Rights, Administrative Services, Unemployment Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Worker's Compensation. It connects job seekers with employment opportunities, processes unemployment insurance claims and employer taxes, enforces labor standards and civil rights protections, administers worker's compensation benefits, and delivers vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities.

Product overview

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a state government agency operating as a platform organization with six distinct divisions delivering workforce services. The core portfolio includes Unemployment Insurance (UI) for benefit claims and employer tax services, Worker's Compensation administration, Equal Rights/Labor Standards enforcement, Employment & Training programs, and Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) for individuals with disabilities. These divisions are supported by shared platforms including the Job Center of Wisconsin (online job portal), MyWisconsin ID (identity/access management), WisConnect (internship platform), and WisConomy (labor market data). DWD also administers workforce grant programs including WisTRAIN, WIG:HEART, and Wisconsin Fast Forward training grants. The department serves job seekers, employers, and employees across the state through both digital platforms and physical locations including Job Centers and DVR offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Job Center of Wisconsin: Free online portal connecting job seekers with employment opportunities throughout Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Fast Forward
• WisTRAIN
• WIG: HEART
• WisConnect
• WisConomy
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)

Products and services

• Unemployment Insurance Services
• Worker's Compensation Administration
• Equal Rights Division Services
• Employment and Training Services
• Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
• Job Center of Wisconsin
• Apprenticeship Programs
• Wisconsin Fast Forward
• WisTRAIN Employer Training Grant
• WIG:HEART Grant
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
• Veteran Employment Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Wisconsin unemployment rate of 3.3% as of June 2026, below national average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Job Center NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWD is a proud partner of the American Job Center network, providing comprehensive workforce development services aligned with federal workforce innovation standards.
• Department of Public Instruction (DPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency agreement for collaboration on workforce development, career and technical education, and youth employment programs.
• Department of Health Services (DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInteragency agreement covering vocational rehabilitation, disability services, and programs for workers with disabilities.
• University of Wisconsin SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for collaboration on workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and career pathways for students and job seekers.
• Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for apprenticeship training, career and technical education, and workforce development programs.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency providing funding and oversight for workforce development programs including WIOA, H-2A/H-2B visas, and veterans employment services.
• College of Menominee Nation Vocational Rehabilitation ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for American Indian VR services under Section 121, serving tribal members with disabilities.
• Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for tribal VR services, providing employment assistance to Native Americans with disabilities.
• Lac Courte Oreilles Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for tribal vocational rehabilitation services in Hayward, Wisconsin.
• Oneida Nation VR ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement for Oneida Nation vocational rehabilitation services in Green Bay.
• Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council (WRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council providing guidance and oversight for DVR programs and services.
• Client Assistance Program (CAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU for advocacy and assistance services to VR consumers, including appeals support.
• Employment Resources, Inc. (ERI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership Plus Agreement for Social Security Ticket to Work Program, helping SSDI recipients achieve employment.
• Job Center Staff (ASSET, CEPT, ETPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWD works with ASSET, CEPT, and ETPL providers at local Job Centers throughout Wisconsin.
• Governor's Council on Workforce Investment (CWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState council guiding workforce development policies and programs under WIOA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Florida Department of Commerce (formerly DEO): Florida's state agency administering workforce services, unemployment compensation, and vocational rehabilitation — a directly comparable peer in the workforce development domain.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS): Ohio's state agency administering unemployment compensation, workforce development, and vocational rehabilitation — directly comparable to DWD's program structure.
• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): Texas's state agency administering workforce development, unemployment benefits, and vocational rehabilitation across Texas's workforce boards — directly comparable to DWD's six-division service model.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED): Minnesota's state agency administering unemployment insurance, workforce development, and vocational rehabilitation — a directly comparable peer given geographic proximity and similar labor market structure to Wisconsin.
• New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL): New York's state labor agency providing unemployment insurance, workforce development, labor standards enforcement, and vocational rehabilitation — directly comparable to DWD's integrated service portfolio.
• California Employment Development Department (EDD): California's state agency administering unemployment insurance, employment services, workforce training, and labor market information — directly comparable to DWD in scope and statutory function, though at materially larger scale.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I): Pennsylvania's state agency administering unemployment compensation, workforce development, and vocational rehabilitation services — directly comparable to DWD in mission and program portfolio.
• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO): Michigan's state agency administering workforce development, unemployment, and labor standards — a directly comparable peer to DWD with overlapping program structure.
• Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES): Illinois's state agency administering unemployment insurance, employment services, and labor market information — a directly comparable peer in scope of services delivered.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL): The federal department that provides WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, and Veterans Employment and Training Services funding that flows to DWD — a broader incumbent setting national labor policy and funding framework that governs state workforce agencies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 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

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development