Indiana must upskill 82,000 workers a year to meet job demands, Ivy Tech report finds

Indiana faces a workforce shortage and a decline in skilled talent, according to a new report from Ivy Tech Community College. The study shows that key sectors across the state need more trained workers to meet growing demand.

Sectors in need of skilled workers include advanced manufacturing; transportation and logistics; healthcare; and technology. The report finds that 69% of jobs in these fields will require some form of postsecondary education or training in the next ten years. That means 82,000 people every year through 2035 will need to earn non-degree credentials—such as certifications, licenses or other short-term training—to meet that need.

Leighton Johnson, assistant vice president for employer connections at Ivy Tech, said Ivy Tech is working to make this goal achievable.

“I think for the individual learner, it may not require this major investment in time,” Johnson said. “It could just be looking at the various offerings that could be, you know, tweaking your skill set and helping you better understand AI, changing technology and more.”

Johnson said some of Ivy Tech’s business partnerships make these credentials more accessible. The report recommends strategies such as apprenticeship programs and tuition assistance to help meet the workforce demand.

The report, titled Indiana’s Workforce Transformation: Understanding the Need for Upskilling and Reskilling in a Changing Economy, was produced in partnership with TEConomy Partners. Read it here.

The report’s findings come as fewer Indiana high school graduates go directly to college and more pursue career and technical education. In the class of 2023, nearly 40% of Indiana students concentrated in a career field by taking at least three courses in one area. More than 80% took at least one course in a career pathway.

WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais covers Marion County schools. Contact her at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.