Wisconsin ranks among the worst states in the nation on one key measure of “brain drain,” according to a Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis.
Wisconsin-born adults who have moved to another state are more likely to hold bachelor’s degrees than those who have moved to Wisconsin from another state.
Although this finding appears concerning at first glance, there are also several mitigating factors. Wisconsin-born adults are more likely to have earned a bachelor’s or advanced degree than the national average, and even with the effects of brain drain, educational attainment among current Wisconsin residents is still close to the national average. Additionally, it is estimated that across all ages and educational levels, Wisconsin saw slightly more people move into the state than away from it between 2020 and 2024, further softening the blow of brain drain.
Nevertheless, these findings show room for improvement given the importance of highly educated workers to Wisconsin’s economic growth. A 2024 Forum research brief found that a majority of job openings in Wisconsin that pay at least $50,000 per year and are expected to become available by 2030 typically require a bachelor’s or advanced degree.
Retaining and attracting highly educated residents will be key to employers’ efforts to fill these roles. Wisconsin’s job growth during the seven years before COVID was also primarily in those higher-paying occupations, and those jobs – which are more likely to require a bachelor’s or advanced degree – proved relatively durable during the pandemic.
