Powering Business Success Through Our People and Place
Milwaukee Region Demographics
The Milwaukee region stands as a strategic hub where talent, opportunity, and quality of life converge. As business leaders and community stakeholders, you’ll find our seven-county region offers a unique combination of workforce excellence, infrastructure advantages, and economic balance that creates an environment where businesses don’t just survive — they thrive.
Strategic Business Advantages
Our region’s business climate reflects a diversified economic ecosystem that has demonstrated remarkable resilience and sustained growth. With over 39,000 private nonfarm business establishments spanning manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and emerging technology sectors, Milwaukee offers both depth and diversity in its economic foundation.
Home to global industry leaders like Northwestern Mutual, Rockwell Automation, and GE Healthcare, we’ve cultivated a balanced mix of established Fortune 500 corporations and innovative startups that create pathways for business growth at every scale.
Workforce Excellence
Milwaukee’s workforce represents one of our greatest competitive advantages. With over 800,000 workers in our labor force and an unemployment rate consistently matching or outperforming national averages, businesses find both talent depth and availability here.
Our workforce reflects strength in:
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
[ 7.2% ]
Production occupations
[ 9.7% ]
Business and financial operations
[ 7.1% ]
Office and administrative professionals
[ 12.2% ]
Educational Pipeline
Milwaukee’s exceptional educational ecosystem ensures a continuous pipeline of skilled talent. With 93.2% of residents holding a high school diploma and 39.3% possessing bachelor’s degrees or higher, our region delivers the educated workforce that powers innovation.
Our 20 higher education institutions — including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University, and Milwaukee Area Technical College — produce over 22,000 graduates annually across certificate, associate, bachelor’s and advanced degree programs.
Balanced Cost of Living
Milwaukee offers a remarkably balanced cost profile with a composite index of 100.2 — right at the national average. This creates significant advantages for both businesses and workers:
- Housing costs only 3.5% above the national average
- Transportation costs 7% below the national average
- Significantly more affordable than coastal cities and Chicago
This balanced affordability enhances employee recruitment and retention while optimizing operational costs for businesses of all sizes.
Strategic Location & Infrastructure
Our region’s comprehensive transportation infrastructure connects businesses to markets efficiently:
- Modernized interstate highway system with recent $2 billion in improvements
- Port Milwaukee provides direct access to international shipping
- Mitchell International Airport offers connections to 39+ destinations
- Comprehensive rail and transit networks supporting workforce mobility
These infrastructure advantages position Milwaukee businesses to move products, connect with customers, and access talent with exceptional efficiency.
Looking Forward
The Milwaukee region continues investing in our future — from infrastructure improvements to workforce development initiatives that address evolving business needs. Through public-private partnerships and strategic economic development, we’re creating pathways to sustain prosperity for businesses and residents alike.
Explore the detailed sections below to discover how Milwaukee’s demographic advantages can support your organization’s growth and success in today’s competitive landscape.