About the Department of Workforce Development

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a state agency charged with building and strengthening Wisconsin's workforce in the 21st century and beyond.

The Department's primary responsibilities include providing job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work, at the same time as it works with employers on finding the necessary workers to fill current job openings.

Under the DWD umbrella, a wide variety of employment programs can be found which range from securing jobs for the disabled, assisting former welfare recipients as they make a transition into work, promoting 75 job centers, linking youth with jobs of tomorrow, protecting and enforcing worker's rights, processing unemployment claims and ensuring workers compensation claims are paid in accordance with the law.