10,000 Hoosiers Have Completed High-Demand Workforce Certificates
Next Level Jobs Initiative Drives Indiana’s Economic Momentum
(INDIANAPOLIS) – More than 10,000 Hoosiers have completed a high-demand
certificate program through Indiana’s Next Level Jobs
Workforce Ready Grant, which provides
tuition-free certificates in five of the state’s most sought-after sectors,
including health and life sciences; IT and business services; building and
construction, transportation and logistics; and advanced manufacturing.
Additionally, more than 900 employers have taken advantage of the state’s
Employer Training Grant to train more than 9,000 employees. Since Gov. Eric
Holcomb introduced Next Level Jobs in 2017, over 23,000 Hoosiers have
enrolled in the Workforce Ready Grant program.
Gov. Holcomb announced these updated workforce figures during his annual
Indiana State of the State address on January 14.
“We are focused on driving economic growth in Indiana and that starts with
leveraging the tools we have available, beginning with education and
training,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Indiana is moving in the right direction and
these 10,000-plus Hoosier adults that have put themselves on a better path
are helping us get closer to our goal. But we’re not done yet and we won’t
rest until all Hoosiers are skilled-up and prospering.”
Next Level Jobs supports Indiana’s goal of having 60 percent of Hoosiers
with a quality credential beyond a high school diploma by 2025, a goal
aligned to projected future workforce needs. Currently, the state’s
educational attainment is at 43.4 percent, which represents an increase of
10 percentage points since 2008. Workforce certificates account for about 5
percent of Indiana’s rate.
Next Level Jobs builds on recent efforts and reforms at the K-12 level to
better prepare students for future success and ease the transition to higher
learning – including graduation pathways requirements for high school
students to incorporate a focus on career exploration and postsecondary
readiness.
Other efforts to increase the educational attainment among Hoosiers include
seeking out adults who were previously enrolled in college but didn’t finish
and encouraging them to complete their degrees. To date, 2,000 adults have
re-enrolled and completed their degrees with the support of Indiana’s Adult
Student Grant, while another 19,000 have re-enrolled and are in the process
of completing their degrees.
“Indiana’s workforce demands a talent system that is accessible for learners
and allows them to improve their individual quality of life,” said Indiana
Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “We cannot meet the
state’s educational achievement goal without reaching our adult populations
and offering them the opportunities continued education and lifelong
learning can afford.”
Employer Training Grants provide funding to Indiana companies who hire new
employees, train them and keep them for at least six months. The grants
offer up to $5,000 per employee or up to $50,000 per employer and is an
integral part of the Next Level Jobs initiative.
“These grants are positively impacting employers’ efforts to educate and
train people on the latest advancements in equipment and technology,” said
Fred Payne, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
“We want to prepare Indiana’s workforce to meet current and future business
needs, while helping people gain the training and education that will assist
them in reaching their next level. Employer Training Grants are helping to
achieve that.”
To apply for a Next Level Jobs grant, individuals and employers can go to
www.NextLevelJobs.org and complete a quick
survey that gathers information about their needs and interests. Once
individuals are contacted by an education or training provider and employers
are contacted by someone from the Department of Workforce Development. This
direct and individualized outreach ensures that people are connected to the
best programs and resources to suit their unique needs.
About Next Level Jobs
Next Level Jobs provides free training for Hoosiers and reimbursements for
Indiana employers for training employees in high-demand fields. Next Level
Jobs is part of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Indiana agenda to continue the
positive momentum of our state. Under his leadership, with support from the
General Assembly, Indiana is taking the state’s workforce to the next level
with a focus on the high-priority industries and in-demand, high-paying jobs
driving Indiana’s 21st Century economy forward.
About the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Created in 1971, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education plans,
coordinates and defines Indiana’s postsecondary education system to align
higher learning with the needs of students and the state. The Commission
also administers Indiana’s financial aid programs, including the 21st
Century Scholars <www.scholars.in.gov> early college promise
scholarship, which celebrates 30 years in 2020. Learn more about the
Commission’s Reaching Higher in a State of Change strategic plan at
www.in.gov/che .
About the Department of Workforce Development
DWD serves the worker and the employer to ensure workplace success. DWD is
committed to innovating and invigorating Indiana’s economic future by
providing WorkOne Career Centers, Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market
Information, Regional Workforce Strategies and Professional Training.
Through these services, DWD is able to develop a premier workforce that
enables Indiana employers to flourish and entices businesses from outside
our state to relocate to Indiana.