Equipping the Workforce at Every Stage of Their Career

Blue-Collar No More

A recent article in The Economist points to the fact that bringing back manufacturing will not bring back the ‘good jobs.’ These blue-collar jobs, which used to earn a premium and account for 25% of our workforce, now account for less than 10%. And the wage premium has disappeared.

Jobs of the Future

At the same time, demand for talent is increasing in health care and personal services, such as nurse assistants and child-care workers. According to the article, comparable jobs today—those with similar pay, educational requirements, and unionization—include electricians, carpenters, and repair technicians. These fields are also in high demand and offer greater potential for wage growth.

Workforce in Indiana

In Indiana, and as analyzed in a white paper from Ivy Tech Community College and TEConomy Partners, we face a workforce crisis. A decline in birth rates leading to a smaller working-age population, a decline in labor force participation (proportion of the working age population that is employed or looking for work), and international migration has led to a reduction in the pool of human capital available. Today in Indiana, we have 72 available workers for every 100 job postings.

At the same time, the demand for upskilling or reskilling is growing. It is estimated that more than 82,000 Hoosiers will benefit from learning new skills and acquiring non-degree credentials, helping to meet workforce demands and promote economic growth. Industry sectors that will benefit from upskilling include healthcare (38,700 annual openings), advanced manufacturing (18,300 annual positions), transportation and logistics (24,000 annual positions), and information technology (1,300 tech professionals). Skills range from technical competencies to communications, business skills, and critical thinking.

While the higher education industry has traditionally focused on degree programs, we have both a role and an obligation to promote learning opportunities for all learners. We need to develop non-degree credentials and customized workforce development programs that are coordinated with specific industry sectors in ways that allow flexibility to the learner. If we truly believe in the value of lifelong learning, we must commit to innovating and expanding credentialing opportunities that equip the workforce with relevant skills at every stage of their careers.

As always, I welcome suggestions on how specific departments, colleges, or units working together can offer programs that benefit our Hoosier state.

What are jobs of the future?

What skills will be needed?

What programs can universities offer to keep learners learning for life?

How can we do this at scale?

Go Jags!

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor