logo

Did Tim Michels say 'it probably takes about 2.6 hours to find a job'?

By Erin Gretzinger
YES

In an appearance at the Milwaukee Rotary Club, Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said, "It probably takes about 2.6 hours to find a job" — not 26 weeks, which is the typical amount of time a person who is unemployed can receive state benefits.

A 2019 survey by Randstad, a recruitment agency, found that the average job search took about five months. This survey measured the job search time from when an individual decided to look at other employment options to when they started a new position.

The amount of time spent job searching varies, but the majority of individuals remain unemployed for several weeks. As of September 2022, the average time length of unemployment was 20 weeks, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found.  While many businesses in Wisconsin have "help wanted" signs, there can be mismatches between available jobs and workers' skills.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
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.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email