By 2034, Indiana employers will need to fill about 257,000 jobs.
We know many will require education or training beyond high school. Yet today, fewer than 40% of our high school students complete college, and only 39% of adult Hoosiers hold an associate degree or higher.
This mismatch threatens Indiana°®¶¹apps economic future.
But there°®¶¹apps hope. We°®¶¹appre part of a groundbreaking initiative called CEMETS iLab Indiana, a coalition of more than 200 business, education, government and nonprofit leaders working to transform how we educate and train young people. We°®¶¹appre calling on fellow employers to join.
While college remains vital for educating many Hoosiers, the traditional pathway isn°®¶¹appt meeting all our workforce needs. That°®¶¹apps why iLab Indiana has developed a new pathway inspired by Switzerland°®¶¹apps successful vocational and professional education and training.
This is a way for employers to play a leading role in developing their future workforce. The pathway, which will include paid apprenticeships beginning in high school combined with relevant academic instruction, will create a new pipeline of skilled talent. It will also give young Hoosiers a clear path to rewarding careers.
Its success depends on employer engagement. Already, more than 100 employers are participating in pilot programs. But to reach 50,000 student apprentices by 2034 °®¶¹app a goal based on projected workforce demand °®¶¹app we need more employers to step forward.
What makes this initiative different is that it°®¶¹apps employer-led. Through new °®¶¹apptalent associations,°®¶¹app businesses will work together to identify needed occupations and define the required skills and competencies. This ensures the training directly aligns with real workforce needs.
Second, it°®¶¹apps systematic and scalable, designed to work across the state and across industries.
Third, it creates clear career progression pathways that benefit both employees and employers. And, it°®¶¹apps flexible enough for students to join or exit as they map out their futures.
For employers, the benefits are clear. We get direct and early access to motivated, skilled talent while reducing our recruitment and training costs. We enjoy improved employee retention and the ability to shape our future workforce.
Indiana stands at a crossroads. We can continue with the status quo and watch our talent gap widen, or we can work together to build a system that prepares more Hoosiers for success while meeting our workforce needs. The choice is clear, but success requires your participation.
We invite you to join us in this transformative effort. The future of Indiana’s workforce and our economic competitiveness depend on employers stepping up to this challenge to ensure every Hoosier has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Learn more at .
Dennis Murphy, left, is president and CEO of IU Health. Mike Ash is region president for Fifth Third Bank. They are members of the iLab Governing Committee.
