Manufacturers want Indiana workforce development programs focused on their needs

Hoosier manufacturing companies want more say in how Indiana annually spends approximately $1 billion in state and federal funds on workforce development.

Brian Burton, president and CEO of the Indiana Manufacturers Association, told reporters Thursday that the state’s worker training programs are failing to prepare the next generation of Hoosiers to meet the specific needs of Indiana businesses, particularly high-tech manufacturing.

“Education and workforce development policies at the state and national level are not aligned with the real needs of employers,” Burton said.

“Without a change in our workforce system in Indiana, we expect that we will not be able to fill 60 percent of the open positions that will occur over the next decade.”

He said convincing the Republican-controlled General Assembly to put in place an “employer-driven” workforce development system is the top priority for his organization when the next legislative session begins in January.

“An employer-driven system is to allow employers to direct at least a portion of the dollars that are being spent on workforce,” Burton said. “Who knows best than the employers of Indiana what types of skills that they need?

“So we need to get employers involved in the decision process.”

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