Indiana is listed among the top 10 states for doing business, according to Chief Executive, Area Development and Site Selection magazines, and our workforce continues to improve and develop.
State Senator Randy Head said, “Our unemployment rate stands at 3.1 percent for July, which is a 1.4 percent decrease since the same time last year. Along with Tennessee and Wyoming, Indiana’s unemployment rate decline within the last year is the largest in the nation.”
As far as attracting businesses, during the first half of 2017, more than 160 companies committed to locating or growing in Indiana, with plans to produce nearly 18,000 jobs. Some companies who made job announcements include Infosys, a global technology firm; Knowledge Services, an information technology company; and Forest River, a recreational and commercial vehicle manufacturer.
Senator Head said, “During the next decade, an estimated 1 million jobs are expected to open. To ensure Hoosiers are ready to fill these positions, Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced two new grant programs – the Workforce Ready Grant and the Employer Training Grant – as part of Indianan’s Next Level Job initiative, which aims to fill high-wage, high-demand jobs.”
The Workforce Ready Grant, which was established by Senate Enrolled Act 198, will use scholarships to help prepare Hoosiers for jobs, while the Employer Training Grant will help offset the cost of training employees.
Head said, “We are taking great strides to continue to improve Indiana’s workforce, and I am eager to see the impact it will have on our state.”
