Workforce diversity has become an economic imperative. Despite high unemployment among minorities, jobs are going unfilled in metropolitan Milwaukee because the region has not yet figured out how to match people who want to work with the means for them to become productive. Moreover, workforce diversity is an important economic opportunity. Businesses--indeed, entire metro areas--that embrace the new realities of the workforce will gain competitive advantages over those that miss out on the opportunity to fully utilize the labor pool.

There is a measurable economic impact of workforce diversity. Using a variety of data sources, including survey results from 244 small and medium-sized businesses (250 workers or less) belonging to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the study documents that increasing job diversity to reflect the population of metro Milwaukee would mean a minimum of $300 million in economic benefit here annually as of the year 2002. The objectives of this study were to quantify an important opportunity available to small and medium-sized business and to suggest ways these businesses can take advantage of this opportunity. The report is organized in five sections: 1. A snapshot of the current workforce in the four county Milwaukee metro area; 2. A look at what a diversified workforce in the metro area would look like in economic terms; 3. Examination of the changes that can be expected in the makeup of the metropolitan area workforce through the year 2002; 4. Exploration of reasons the workforce is not more diverse; 5. Suggestions for businesses--and for the community at large--to promote diversity in the workplace.