It’s no secret, the seven-county Milwaukee region has something for everyone.

With millions of residents and 50,000 businesses, southeastern Wisconsin is the perfect location to begin a career, start a family, or settle down. On the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee has earned its reputation as an industrious, innovative city with easy access to recreation, entertainment and so much more.

7 county graphic of SE Wisconsin

Total population for the 7 counties, 2022

2,028,835

Kenosha County 167,817
Milwaukee County 918,661
Ozaukee County 93,009
Racine County 195,846
Walworth County 105,380
Washington County 137,688
Waukesha County 410,434

Labor Force Breakdown

August 2023

With more than 2 million residents, the seven-county Milwaukee region is Wisconsin’s population center and economic engine. Our labor force boasts a diverse set of skills – from info and biotech to engineering and business, the region’s workforce is dynamic.

 

    Population
  16+ Civilian Non-Institutionalized Population 1,612,125
       Not in Labor Force (16+) 522,344
       Labor Force 1,089,781
            Employed 1,044,595
            Unemployed 45,186
  Under 16, Military, and Institutionalized population 412,620

Educational Attainment

The state of Wisconsin delivers when it comes to educating the talent of tomorrow.

According to a 2023 report by U.S. News and World Report, the state of Wisconsin ranked No. 8 overall in the U.S. when it comes to education, landing in the top 10 for both Pre-K-12 and secondary education.

Concerning educational attainment, 23.4% of the Milwaukee region’s residents possess a Bachelor’s degree (2.5% above the national average), and 9.3% hold an Associate’s degree (0.5% above the national average).

 

 

 

% of population Population

 

Less than 9th grade 2.7%  37,518

 

9th grade to 12th grade 5.1% 71,441

 

High school diploma 26.6% 371,091

 

Some college 20.2% 281,634

 

Associate’s degree 9.3% 129,654

 

Bachelor’s degree 23.4% 325,773

 

Graduate degree or higher

12.7%

176,734

Industry Characteristics

Take a look around. Chances are, something you see was made in Milwaukee’s seven-county region. Manufacturing is our strong suit. In fact, the area ranks second in the U.S. in the concentration of manufacturing jobs. While manufacturing is our bread and butter, the region also boasts strength in the health care and financial sectors.

Largest Industries

Top Industry Gross Regional Product (GRP)

When it comes to productivity, the seven-county region outpaces the rest of the U.S. in several industry sectors, with healthcare and manufacturing leading the way. 

Education Pipeline

From K-12 to post-secondary schools, the region’s education pipeline is one of the most respected in the country. The seven-county Milwaukee area is home to a diverse mix of four-year universities and strong technical schools.

School

Total Graduates (2022)

 Certificate 
 Associate's 

 Bachelor's 
 Master's or higher 

Graduate Trend (2018-2022)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

5,838  

Marquette University

 3,721

 

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

 3,159  

Milwaukee Area Technical College

 2,697    

Gateway Technical College

 2,683    

Waukesha County Technical College

 2,019    

Concordia University-Wisconsin

 1,354    

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

 1,232    

Carroll University

 893    

Carthage College

 761    

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Expansion or relocation is always a challenge. The Milwaukee 7 Partnership is your local advocate, simplifying and streamlining the investment process.

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