As the Oshkosh Corporation plans to lay off more than 450 employees beginning in January, a local commerce official is optimistic those workers will find jobs elsewhere.
“A good share of people that will be leaving Oshkosh Corporation in the next couple of months will have a skill set that others are looking for,” says Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce President John Casper.
He says despite unemployment being a little higher than the chamber wants, there are a number of employers who complain they can’t find skilled workers.
Manufacturing makes up 25 percent of the Oshkosh metro’s economy and Casper says the labor pool is made up an eight-county region.