Friday, March 22, 2019
Indiana’s workforce remains strong, with more than 3.39 million Hoosiers employed or pursuing employment in our state.
Furthermore, Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced the number of Hoosiers employed in the private/non-public sector — over 2.7 million individuals — has reached a recorded high.
Due to Indiana’s competitive job market, strengthening the state’s workforce continues to be a top priority for the General Assembly. This legislative session, several measures have been proposed to improve workforce development opportunities.
For example, House Bill 1002 would help increase high school career and technical education (CTE) opportunities by giving high schools more flexibility to improve CTE courses as well as hire instructors.
This bill would also improve job-training programs by expanding the Workforce Ready Grant, an initiative created by the General Assembly in 2017 that pays for adults to complete certificate programs, to all colleges approved by the Commission for Higher Education in addition to Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University.
Additionally, another workforce development initiative, Next Level Jobs, continues to contribute to Indiana’s strong workforce.
This initiative aims to take Indiana’s workforce to the next level by focusing on industries and jobs integral to Indiana’s 21st century economy.
Since the launch of the program, our state has seen more and more Hoosiers enroll in high-value certificate programs, and completion rates have consistently risen.
For more information on career-training opportunities, visit NextLevelJobs.org.
To stay up to date on workforce development related legislation moving through the General Assembly, click here.
