Upward Mobility for Economic Growth

Jan 19, 2025 | Upward Mobility Signals

Judy Nagel, Upward Mobility Signals Team

Upward mobility is the desired status for any society that wants to achieve economic growth and sustainability. It supports achievement by merit versus privilege, the prerequisite for a society that seeks continuous improvement.

So where does the US rank internationally in upward mobility? The International Organization of Economic and Community Development measures upward mobility across the world. Five criteria determine the measurement; labor, healthcare, social safety net, education and technology. We refer to upward mobility as the American Dream. According to OECD analysis the US ranks as 27th in the world for social mobility. In the US it is the norm to take five generations to move from lower income to the middle-income class. Some countries achieve this norm in two generations.

Learn more from the linked report which compares Wisconsin to other states and the US to the rest of the world. There are many clues and models that offer learning opportunities for achieving upward mobility. Learn more here

If Only We Had Known

Oct 28, 2024 | Upward Mobility Signals

Jim Golembeski, Upward Mobility Signals Team

As we prepare for Greater Green Bay’s fourth annual celebration of World Futures Day,  I can’t help but reflect on how things were in northeast Wisconsin 25 years ago—if we’d only known then what we know now! But we did not, and we paid a huge price. Read about missed signals here and here.

Socially Inclusive Housing

Aug 31, 2024 | Upward Mobility Signals

Jim Golembeski, Upward Mobility Signals Team

Our Wisconsin workforce continues to set records.  Numbers from June 2024 show a record 3,048,600 people employed in our state with a Labor Force Participation rate of 65.5%, 3% above the national average. So who are these people, supposedly sitting on the sidelines, unwilling to work? Read about the housing our workforce.