Campus Connection

UWL Employer Meeting connects area businesses, university to discuss recruiting trends, needs

A UW-La Crosse Employer Meeting Tuesday, Aug. 27 provided an opportunity for university faculty and staff and employers to discuss recruiting trends, community workforce needs and concerns, as well as student expectations and needs.   

The annual meeting connected employers with the university at a time when the area’s worker shortage is projected to get worse.  The 7 Rivers Alliance, an economic development agency in La Crosse, has found that by 2026 there will be more than 15,000 job openings in the area that will go unfilled. 

Sarah Snapp, from the Onalaska-headquartered business Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, commented about the need for employees in a News 8 interview.  "The La Crosse region as a whole is losing population over time, so how can we be better employers, better stewards of our community to bring talent back to the La Crosse region," she said. Read the full News 8 story. 

The event included “The Eagle Advantage roundtables,” an opportunity for small group discussion about desired employee competencies and skills. And, new this year, was an Employer Pitch Panel where employers provided a brief profile of their organization, types of jobs they most commonly recruit for, and what type of skills they’re seeking.  

The event also included, "Demonstrating a Commitment to Equity and Inclusion," presentation by Stacy Narcotta-Welp, director of UWL Student Support Services. She shared what students are looking for when they try to determine whether an employer is focused on equity and inclusion.  Isabella Killabarda, a May 2019 graduate, co-presented with Narcotta-Welp. While she was a student at UWL, Killabarda was involved in diverse student organizations, including Asian, Latina, African, Native American Womyn (ALANA) and Students Educating & Embracing Diversity (SEEDS).