Two recent major studies are painting a compelling picture: Milwaukee is emerging as a standout destination for young professionals while simultaneously building the foundation for a thriving tech ecosystem.
A recent study from ADP surveyed over five million U.S. workers in their 20s, ranking 55 metro areas based on affordability, wages, and hiring activity. Milwaukee ranked second, after Raleigh, North Carolina.
This success isn’t accidental. Milwaukee benefits from a strong foundation of established companies making significant investments in the region. Milwaukee Tool, Eli Lilly, and Northwestern Mutual, among others, have all expanded their local presence, creating robust demand for new talent. What sets Milwaukee apart is how these companies work directly with local universities to build talent pipelines. Northwestern Mutual’s long-standing partnerships with Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee exemplify this approach, creating clear pathways from classroom to career.
Milwaukee’s appeal extends beyond immediate job opportunities. The Brookings Institution recently classified Milwaukee as a “Nascent Adopter” in its comprehensive analysis of the AI Economy across the United States. Nascent Adopters are described as “communities [that] are strengthening their talent pipelines, building innovation capacity, and beginning to adopt AI in their business sectors.” This position is advantageous for the region as we build a solid foundation that will allow for sustainable growth. This designation reflects Milwaukee’s performance across three areas: local AI talent, knowledge creation and infrastructure, and business adoption of AI applications.
For Nascent Adopters to continue growth, Brookings recommends building AI literacy through practical courses and regional programs—precisely the approach taken by our FUSE AI Bootcamp, which celebrated the latest cohort’s success at Demo Day.
Additionally, MKE Tech Hub continuously addresses different needs within the tech community.
- The AI Community provides networking and education for local professionals.
- Entrepreneurs can access support through the free FOR-M incubator program.
- Small and medium sized businesses looking to implement AI solutions can get consulting support through the Synapse program.
These initiatives align with the recommendations from Brookings to foster success and continued growth as a tech hub.
As more young professionals discover that Milwaukee offers competitive wages, affordable housing, and growing opportunities in emerging fields, the city’s talent pipeline will continue to strengthen. This, in turn, will attract more companies and investment, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.
Without the collective support of the community, this transformation is incomplete. Participation in the MKE Tech mission isn’t about individual growth opportunity, but ensuring Milwaukee continues to attract talent and investment that will benefit everyone who calls this city home.
With the continued support of MKE Tech Hub and its collaborators, the mission to create a vibrant tech ecosystem shows that Milwaukee is a desirable place to live, work and play. The initiatives in place are perfectly aligned to create the necessary momentum to continue to push Milwaukee to the next level.
To learn more about membership and how to support the work of MKE Tech, please visit https://www.mketech.org/become-a-member/