A growing number of Hoosiers are utilizing state grant programs to help them get the education they need to land a career in a high-demand field.
In advance of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s first meeting March 6 as a member of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, Holcomb was expected to share with the board that more Hoosiers are achieving education and training beyond high school, crediting the Next Level Jobs initiative.
“Indiana’s greatest asset is our people, and my focus is on ensuring all Hoosiers have the tools they need to find meaningful work and careers,” Holcomb said. “I’m thrilled to see Indiana gaining ground.”
Holcomb was appointed to the 25-member board in February. It was established through an executive order to work with the National Council for the American Worker to develop and implement a strategy to revamp the American workforce to better meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The number of Hoosiers with education beyond a high school diploma reached 43.4 percent in 2018, bringing Indiana closer to its 60 percent attainment goal by 2025. The latest data from the Lumina Foundation represents an increase of 1.5 percentage points in one year and a 10 percentage point gain since 2008.
Holcomb credits the Next Level Jobs initiative, which provides tuition-free certificates in high-demand fields and funding for employers who hire, train and retain new employees.
Since Next Level Jobs launched in August 2017, 36,000 people have completed the short survey to connect directly with an education provider, including Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University. More than 13,800 people have enrolled in Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant program, and more than 5,000 of them have completed a certificate program in some of Indiana’s highest demand sectors, including healthcare, information technology and advanced manufacturing.
“We know that in today’s world learning beyond high school is crucial to grow our state’s economy, meet workforce demand and improve individual quality of life,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “As we continue to make progress toward Indiana’s big goal for 60 percent of Hoosiers to have a postsecondary credential by 2025, Next Level Jobs reaches an important group of Hoosiers who will help us get there.”
Next Level Jobs builds on recent efforts and reforms at the K-12 level to better prepare students for future success—such as computer science courses in every school and graduation pathways requirements for high school students that incorporate a focus on career exploration and postsecondary readiness.
Employer Training Grants provide funding to Indiana companies who hire new employees, train them and keep them for at least six months. Along with the steady growth of people earning a certificate with the Workforce Ready Grant, more than 450 employers and nearly 7,000 Hoosiers utilized the Employer Training Grant.
