The 30 recommendations aim to connect employers with qualified workers, ease employment barriers and build up the state's future workforce. They range pretty widely within those categories, from creating a system to automatically expunge records of criminal misdemeanors to creating a state Talent Agency.

Schools can now apply for grants of up to $100,000 to support classes in digital manufacturing. The effort aims to usher students and companies into what some call the fourth industrial revolution.

The executive director of the Indiana Governor's Workforce Cabinet, PJ McGrew, is stepping down from his position Friday.

Indiana schools are seeing a surge in the number of students taking career and technical education courses this school year. Nearly 225,000 students enrolled in hands-on skills classes, far more than at any point in the last five years.

In a news release, Commissioner Teresa Lubbers said she will also step down as chair of the Governor's Workforce Cabinet.

Participants will have access to coaching via online video calls, phone calls, or texts and can receive help for up to four months.

The Indiana Governors Workforce Cabinet says its expanding the states Next Level Jobs program with $37 million from the CARES Act. Its a major part of the states strategy to help Hoosiers recover from pandemic-related job losses.

The grant is intended to help with workforce training programs and career coaching in light of the pandemic.

Each of the selected schools will get $50,000 from the Governor's Workforce Cabinet to launch a program under the states proposed Next Level Programs of Study plan.

The Indiana Governor's Workforce Cabinet, alongside state education and workforce agencies, announced a "Rapid Recovery For A Better Future" plan that adds millions of dollars to some existing education and job training programs.