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FACT BRIEF

Did U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson say Wisconsin has 'enough' jobs?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
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YES

In February, Wisconsin's incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson stated that, "Obviously I am always supportive of manufacturing here in Wisconsin, but at the same time, I recognize that manufacturers have different capabilities elsewhere." 

Johnson was responding to an interview question about the plans of Oshkosh Defense to manufacture 165,000 new U.S. Postal Service trucks outside of Wisconsin, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. 

Johnson said he would not "insert" himself in the decision about the federally funded contract. "It's not like we don't have enough jobs here in Wisconsin," he added. "The biggest problem we have in Wisconsin right now is employers not being able to find enough workers."

Johnson's statement, although criticized by Democrats and others, referenced Wisconsin's widely reported labor shortage. When he made the statement in February, Wisconsin had a near-record low unemployment rate of 2.9%.

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Low unemployment in Wisconsin leaves employers scrambling for workers.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
American Bridge 21st Century Sen. Ron Johnson remarks in Richfield, WI on February 5, 2022
Business Insider Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson says his state has 'enough jobs' in response to a local manufacturer's plan to hire 1,000 workers in South Carolina to build postal trucks
Wisconsin Public Radio US Sen. Ron Johnson blasted for stance on Oshkosh Defense's move to manufacture outside Wisconsin
Senator Ron Johnson Tweet responding to manufacturing controversy
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.