Editorial: Likes won’t build Portage County’s future — hard work will

By Brandi Makuski

Likes and follows won’t build a future for Wisconsin. Labor Day reminds us that work ethic, not algorithms, is what sustains families and communities.

The holiday, observed on the first Monday in September, honors the contributions of American workers and marks the unofficial end of summer. It traces its roots to the labor movement of the late 19th century, when unions fought for shorter hours, safer conditions, and fair pay. The first parade was held Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, where thousands of workers marched in solidarity.

After several states recognized the holiday, Congress established it as a federal observance in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the law shortly after the deadly Pullman Strike, which brought national attention to labor unrest.

Today, Labor Day is celebrated with parades, picnics, and — of course — retail sales.

It’s meant to honor the dignity of work, but today should also remind us what we’re teaching our children about effort, discipline, and responsibility.

Too many young people are being led to believe their worth comes from clicks and followers instead of hard work and results. Employers across Wisconsin consistently report that communication skills are slipping, work ethic is fading, and patience is wearing thin. A Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce survey found that 73% of employers say students graduating from the state’s K–12 system are not prepared to join the workforce. Another report revealed that 87% of Wisconsin business leaders struggle to find workers with proper technical skills, and 64% report difficulty finding basic “soft” skills such as reliability, teamwork, and communication. In one statewide survey of employers, work ethic was ranked as the single most important missing attribute among young job seekers.

In 2000, nearly two-thirds of Wisconsin teens ages 16 to 19 were in the workforce. By 2022, that number had dropped to 56.5%, even though it’s still higher than the national average of just 36.8%, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. And, according to a 2025 study published by Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development, only 67 Portage County students — about 4.3% of juniors and seniors — were enrolled in youth apprenticeship programs in the 2022–23 school year, compared with the statewide average of 5.7%.

Those apprenticeships matter. They teach discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving — the same qualities celebrated each Labor Day. Wisconsin’s program is a national model, with more than 11,000 students statewide in 2025, up from just 5,100 six years ago. Yet Portage County continues to lag behind, leaving too many of our young people unprepared for the real world.

Meanwhile, time spent online keeps climbing. Social media has become the default classroom—celebrated widely by the public school district—teaching kids that popularity equals value and that speed matters more than accuracy. A “follow” does not prepare anyone to sit through a meeting, finish a job, or handle conflict. A “like” will never teach someone to show up on time.

Let’s be blunt: Stop celebrating social media. Get your kids off TikTok and into the real world. Part-time jobs, apprenticeships, volunteering — even just showing up for work on time — build more character than any algorithm ever will.

Labor Day isn’t about ideology. It’s about the values we risk losing if we keep de-emphasizing work ethic and independent thought. Every job, every apprenticeship, every chance to earn a paycheck matters more than digital applause.

As families gather this weekend, we’d do well to remember: the strength of our community, our economy, and our future depends not on social media metrics but on young people prepared to work hard, communicate clearly, and take pride in doing a job well.

The greatest threat to the meaning of Labor Day isn’t forgetting its history—it’s watching a generation trade real work for digital applause.