When I first moved to Madison, I heard people say that this place withstands economic downturns better than others.

At first, I thought it was just local pride, but as I lived here, I realized there was truth to it. The roots of this city's economy stand on several very stable pillars.

The largest pillar is UW-Madison. The University of Wisconsin-Madison employs 21,000 people directly and generates an annual economic impact of $3.89 billion across Wisconsin through its research activities. There are also figures indicating that startups originating from this university support 88,571 jobs. There are over 400 cases where research results from UW-Madison have led to business ventures. World-renowned discoveries, such as the discovery of vitamins and stem cell research, have emerged from this campus, forming the foundation of the local biotech industry.

In the healthcare sector, UW Health stands out. As Dane County's largest employer, it directly employs 22,000 people. SSM Health and UnityPoint Health - Meriter have also established themselves as major healthcare institutions in Madison. One reason the healthcare industry maintains stable employment in this city is that the university hospital system and research functions are integrated, going beyond simple service provision. There is also a structural characteristic that healthcare demand does not decrease even during economic downturns.

In the technology sector, Epic Systems is prominent. Based in Verona, near Madison, this electronic medical record (EMR) software company employs 13,000 people and has nearly monopolized the medical data systems of hospitals nationwide.

One reason for the heavy traffic congestion on the Beltline Highway towards Verona every morning is the influx of Epic employees commuting to work. In the biosciences sector, companies like Promega, Labcorp Drug Development, and Thermo Fisher Scientific employ 11,281 people and received $49 million in federal support along with the designation of Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce in July 2024. This is expected to create up to 30,000 new jobs and generate $9 billion in local GDP growth over the next decade.

The Wisconsin state government cannot be overlooked either. Madison, being the state capital where the state legislature is located, has significant employment from state government agencies and officials. The agriculture, food, and beverage sector remains a large sector employing 61,096 people. Since all these industries operate in different economic cycles, a diversified structure is created where even if one sector falters, the overall economy does not collapse significantly. The statement I first heard, "Madison is resilient to economic downturns," is not just local pride; it is a result of the structure of this city's economy.

This structure is also reflected in the job market. Madison's biosciences sector employs 11,281 people and received $49 million in federal support along with the designation of Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce in July 2024. Predictions indicate that up to 30,000 new jobs and $9 billion in local GDP growth are expected over the next decade.

The information and communication technology sector employs 37,081 people, while the agriculture, food, and beverage sector has 61,096 workers. These figures show that Madison is not a city that relies on a single industry. The university, healthcare, technology, government, and agriculture each move at different rhythms, supporting the overall economy. That is the true competitiveness of this city.