Frederica Freyberg:

The new quarterly job numbers were out on Thursday, and Wisconsin gained just over 24,000 private sector jobs from March of last year to March 2013. The 1.1% growth puts Wisconsin at 34th nationwide, about the same as the ranking last quarter. Earlier this week, the governor and Republican leaders announced the package of eight bills the legislature would be taking up this session to add on to the nearly $100 million investment for workforce training in the budget. One bill is a Democratic proposal that increases funding for a program helping those with special needs get back into the job market. Another bill, first proposed by Superintendent Tony Evers, would create an incentive program that would give schools $1,000 for every student they graduate in high-need fields. The other Republican sponsored bills include a funding increase for a youth apprenticeship program, a boost for scholarships to technical colleges and the creation of a transitional jobs program.