Attracting the next generation

By Stacy Vogel Davis, Reporter, Milwaukee Business Journal

Molly Foley knows young professionals have different needs than the rest of the work force. She’s building a career out of it at Next Generation Consulting .

The Madison company was started in 1998 by Rebecca Ryan, a West Bend native and respected author and speaker on young professional issues. Its six staff members research the population between 20 and 40 and teach communities and companies nationwide how they can be more attractive to the Millennial generation.

I’ll write next week about how Foley, a lead consultant, says workplaces can attract more YPs, but today I’ll focus on communities.

Milwaukee ranked 11th out of 20 cities with populations of more than 500,000 in NGC’s “Next Cities” list released last June, Foley said. (Madison ranked first in cities between 200,000 and 500,000.)

“Milwaukee actually ranks fairly well,” Foley said.

San Francisco and Seattle top the list, but Milwaukee comes in above cities such as Charlotte, N.C.; Los Angeles; and Chicago.

Milwaukee has been working for several years on diversity and engaging its youngest workers through organizations such as FUEL Milwaukee, Foley said. It also has a low cost of living, meaning young professionals might be willing to take low-paying first or second jobs to live here.

Here are the seven factors NGC looks at in its rankings. How does Milwaukee rank, and what do we need to do to get better?

•Cost of lifestyle;

•Earning: Diversity of employment opportunities, the percentage of jobs in the knowledge-based sector and average household income;

•Vitality: Air and water quality, green space and overall health;

•After hours;

•Learning;

•Around town: Walkability, airport activity, commute times and mass-transit opportunities;

•Social capital: This index accounts for how open, safe and accessible a city is to all people. It measures diversity, crime rates and civic engagement.