THE WHEAT:

Downturn creates deep talent pool (Joe Taschler, 12/24/10, Journal Sentinel)

High unemployment drags on and business remains uneven, but for some companies in Wisconsin the economic downturn has produced a significant yet little-talked-about benefit: They have their best, most productive workers in memory.

"I've been here 35 years, and this is by far the best work force we've ever had, by a huge margin," said Scott Seljan, president of Seljan Co. Inc., a metal and plastic manufacturing job shop in Lake Mills.

While the nation's unemployment rate hovers around 10%, businesses say they are stronger for having been able to hire workers with solid experience and stellar work records - workers who had found themselves unemployed through no fault of their own.