At Chamber-led roundtable, area employers discuss workforce, economic, housing issues

TOMAHAWK – The Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a county-level roundtable focused on workforce, economic and housing issues impacting local businesses and the broader community.

A release from the Chamber said the collaborative discussion was moderated by Kurt Bauer, President of the Wisconsin Manufacturers Chamber, and shined a light on current challenges, emerging trends and strategic adaptations needed to support long-term economic stability and employee retention in the Tomahawk area and across the county.

“Key discussion topics included the impacts of tariffs on local and regional businesses, the state of Wisconsin’s demographics and how it impacts the workforce, plus issues uniquely affecting Lincoln County and the Tomahawk area,” the Chamber stated. “Employers shared firsthand insight into rising costs, supply chain pressures and the uncertainty tariffs create for both short- and long-term business planning.”

Another major focus of the roundtable was workforce retention and attraction, according to the Chamber.

“Participants discussed what adaptations and adjustments will be necessary in the future to maintain a strong workforce, including flexibility in scheduling, competitive benefits, training opportunities and creating a community that supports employees and their families beyond the workplace,” the Chamber said.

Housing emerged as a critical issue affecting employee recruitment and retention. The Chamber said employers expressed concerns about the limited availability of workforce housing and how housing affordability and accessibility directly impact their ability to attract and retain talent. 

Charis Lau, Executive Director of the Tomahawk Chamber, said the roundtable “created an important space for employers to openly share challenges and solutions.”

“This group’s discussion brought a lot of insight to better understand what is impacting our businesses today,” Lau stated. “From here, we can work collectively to strengthen our workforce and community for the future.”

The Chamber said the roundtable reinforced the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between employers and local and state leaders.

“Insights gathered from the discussion will help inform future planning efforts, advocacy priorities and initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth, workforce development and community sustainability in the Tomahawk area,” the Chamber stated.

The Chamber said it plans to continue convening similar conversations “to ensure local voices are heard and to help position the region for long-term success.”