Educators and Manufacturers Brought Together for Engineering Roundtable

The Alliance recently hosted an Engineering Talent Roundtable that brought together employers and higher education leaders to discuss the growing demand for engineering talent across Waukesha County and Southeast Wisconsin.

The roundtable created an opportunity for direct collaboration between employers and higher education institutions. Participating institutions included University of Wisconsin–Madison, Waukesha County Technical College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Platteville, and University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Alliance members shared firsthand perspectives on current hiring needs, emerging workforce trends, and the evolving skill sets required in today’s engineering and manufacturing environment. Employers emphasized the importance of experiential learning, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and increasing student awareness of the wide range of engineering career opportunities available throughout the region. Educational partners also highlighted current enrollment trends and discussed how their institutions are working to strengthen connections with industry and prepare the next generation of engineers.

The discussion reinforced the importance of continued collaboration between industry and education to help ensure students are workforce-ready and employers have access to the talent needed to support future growth and innovation in Wisconsin.