Demand for “Middle-Skill” Jobs Is Strong In Indiana

According to the National Skills Coalition, between 2010 – 2020, 55% of job openings will be middle-skill.  Middle-skill jobs require education beyond high school but not a four-year degree.  Middle-skill jobs make up the largest part of America’s and Indiana’s labor market, accounting for 59% of Indiana’s labor market.  However, only 48% of Hoosiers are trained at the middle-skill level. 

As shown, middle-skill jobs are integral to Indiana’s economy.  To address the need, National Skills Coalition has developed the Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition, a bipartisan group of state legislators, education policymakers, and business, labor, and community leaders in an effort to bring greater attention to the need for middle-skill jobs.  According to the Coalition, Indiana industries are unable to find enough middle-skill trained workers.  While low-skill and high-skill workers outnumber their respective jobs, there will likely not be enough middle-skill workers to fill the demand. Middle-skill jobs include registered nurses, dental hygienists, mechanics, electricians, police officers, plumbers, paralegals, and computer support specialists.

Sector Strategies in Indiana: A Summary of Efforts and Credentials of Opportunity are two reports released by the Indiana Institute for Working Families (IIWF) that highlight the powerful economic impact that sub-baccalaureate education and training can have for Indiana.  The IIWF uses research to evaluate public policies that help Hoosier families achieve and maintain financial self-sufficiency. Sector Strategies emphasizes that a significant challenge to Indiana’s economy is the skill development of low-income, low-skilled Hoosiers.  Credentials of Opportunity articulates that sub-baccalaureate credentials have a powerful impact when education is required to fill the skills gap. These reports show that by having more middle-skill workers, Indiana will be better equipped to compete in an increasingly competitive global economy.