High Road Strategy Center in the News

Wisconsin Watch explores how Wisconsin’s failure to raise its minimum wage for 17 years has eroded workers’ purchasing power, drawing on High Road Strategy Center research on the benefits of higher wages. Associate Director Laura Dresser underscores that a strong wage floor is essential to ensure full-time work provides a basic standard of living.

Point Taken host Kristin Brey chats with Laura Dresser about tariffs, immigration, and the shifting landscape of Wisconsin’s economy.

Maggie, host of The Maggie Daun Show, dives into Wisconsin’s economic landscape with labor economist Laura Dresser, revealing a post-pandemic recovery paired with worrying disparities.

Laura Dresser, Associate Director and author of State of Working Wisconsin 2025, sits down with WUWM 89.7’s Lake Effect to talk about the findings from the newest report.

Urban Milwaukee highlights findings from the State of Working Wisconsin 2025 report, showing that immigrants make up 5% of Wisconsin’s population and play critical roles across industries from health care to agriculture. The article highlights the importance of immigrant workers and business owners to the state’s economy amid shifting national debates over immigration policy.

Battleground Wisconsin podcast features HRSC’s Laura Dresser discussing the latest State of Working Wisconsin report, including who is benefiting in today’s economy, the potential impact of a $20 minimum wage, and broader economic and environmental challenges facing Wisconsin workers. Catch the full discussion online.

Laura writes in Isthmus about The State of Working Wisconsin 2025 report, explaining how federal policies and slow job growth are creating deep disruptions for Wisconsin workers. She highlights the record wages alongside long-standing inequalities and the unique challenges of 2025 for working families.

WisBusiness highlights Wisconsin’s record-high median wage and recent gains for lower-paid workers in the State of Working Wisconsin 2025.

Wausau Pilot & Review covers The State of Working Wisconsin 2025 report, noting that while Wisconsin workers are earning record-high wages, growth remains uneven and economic uncertainty is growing as federal policies threaten to deepen inequality for low-wage and marginalized communities.

Wisconsin Examiner covers the latest State of Working Wisconsin 2025 report, highlighting record-high wages and employment while noting ongoing inequalities, slow job growth, and federal policies that could strain working families.