http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/walker-open-for-business-s5.jpgFrom 2011 to 2013, Walker’s flagship jobs agency only managed to create 5,840 new jobs. During the same two-year period, 13,616 jobs were lost in Wisconsin due to layoffs or closures.

MADISON - According to the latest and most reliable federal jobs data, Wisconsin is dead last -- 10th out of 10 states -- in the Midwest in job creation. Walker’s Economic Disaster Corporation, his flagship jobs agency that would help create the 250,000 jobs he promised, has failed to achieve its primary economic development goals.

In 2011, WEDC set a goal to create or retain 50,000 jobs in Fiscal Year 2012 in order to set a pace that would meet Scott Walker's central campaign promise to create 250,000 new jobs by the end of his first term.

WEDC fell short of its own goal for Fiscal Year 2012 by more than 50 percent.

From 2011 to 2013, Walker’s flagship jobs agency only managed to create 5,840 new jobs.

During the same two-year period, 13,616 jobs were lost in Wisconsin due to layoffs or closures. Even after $203 million left WEDC in the form of grants, loans, and bonding authority, Wisconsin lost more than two jobs for every job gained.

In December of 2013, WEDC released an annual report showing the agency fell well short of their own economic development goals despite spending $330 million on economic development initiatives, forcing them to slash economic goals for Fiscal Year 2014 by more than 50 percent.

Heading into the last few months of his first term, Walker’s Economic Disaster Corporation has completely failed in spearheading efforts to create 250,000 new private sector jobs. After three years, WEDC is more known for scandal, a complete lack of leadership, mishandling taxpayer funds, and violating state and federal law than they are for putting Wisconsin’s families back to work.

“We’re dead last in the Midwest in terms of job creation since 2011 when Walker’s Economic Disaster Corporation was established. At this point, it’s safe to say WEDC is a complete and utter failure under Scott Walker. The agency’s sole purpose is to spur economic development, and it can’t even achieve its own stated job creation goals,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Friday. “Walker can call as many press conferences as his heart desires to try and spin the facts, but the truth is his flagship jobs agency has completely failed at getting Wisconsin families back to work.”