The deal President Trump called incredible and Gov. Scott Walker hailed as a once-in-a-century opportunity to bring the electronic manufacturing giant Foxconn to Wisconsin wouldnt generate profits for the state until 2042, a new legislative analysis projects.
Foxconn said it would break ground in southeastern Wisconsin and hire 3,000 workers there over the next four years, with the potential to create 13,000 jobs.
If the company hits that growth target, Wisconsin would break even after 25 years, said Rob Reinhardt, a program manager who worked on the report. If 13,000 jobs never materialize, it could take decades longer.
Wisconsin has an unusually low unemployment rate (3.2 percent), which is significantly lower than the countrys 4.3 percent. Employers there already complain about having trouble finding workers. (As The Posts Chico Harlan reported last week , some are easing the labor demand with robots.)
If Foxconn fills jobs with workers from neighboring Illinois, where the unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, analysts predict the deal wont start making money for Wisconsin until 2045.
