To address whether transportation was a barrier to employment for central city Milwaukee residents, adults were asked whether they had a car and a valid state driver's license. Eighty percent of employed persons had a car, while only 43 percent of unemployed persons who were interested in working had a car. At the request of City of Milwaukee officials, all persons looking for employment or for a different job were asked whether they were interested in construction work. The interest in construction cut across racial and gender lines and was particularly strong among minority men and women. Eighty-three percent of minority male job seekers and 62 percent of minority female job seekers indicated an interest in construction jobs.
Health insurance is a critical employment benefit for many Milwaukee families.
Employers covered half of central city households with at least some insurance. Only 77 percent of household members had health insurance in homes where the respondent worked part-time or in a temporary job.