Like the slogan says, Indiana is “A State That Works.” Yet the ways in which Indiana’s economy works are changing dramatically.
Gone are the days when Hoosiers could land a steady, well-paying job — often in the manufacturing or agriculture industry — and ride it into retirement with little more than a high-school diploma and an occasional workshop. Today, highly educated employees increasingly drive economic competitiveness.
How rapidly are workforce dynamics changing? According to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, more than 70 percent of the 55 million new jobs that will be created by 2020 will require a college-level certificate or degree. Roughly 20 percent of this rising demand for college-educated workers is due to a shift in demand toward more education-intensive jobs in industries like finance, information technology, health care, business services, education and government.
But producing enough college graduates to fill these new jobs alone will not be enough. Workforce experts agree that the four-year college experience must evolve to include more meaningful career preparation opportunities for students.
Producing enough college graduates to fill these new jobs alone will not be enough. Workforce experts agree that the four-year college experience must evolve to include more meaningful career preparation opportunities for students.
— Joe Carley, IU associate director for economic development
To help Indiana’s colleges and universities better address this need, Innovate Indiana is hosting its second annual Education to Employment, or E2E Convergence, event on May 19 at Campus Center on the IUPUI campus.
During this day-long session, representatives of industry, higher education, government and workforce development will come together to share best practices on how to produce college graduates who possess a greater variety of career-ready experiences.
Across the country, states are reorienting their economic development strategy around talent attraction, retention and development. E2E Convergence will focus on how Indiana can:
- Improve coordination between higher education and industry
- Expand pathways to career experiences for students
- Produce more career-ready graduates
Sue Ellspermann, former Indiana lieutenant governor and vice-chair of the Indiana Career Council, will provide a keynote speech at the event. The ICC’s Strategic Plan Strategy 2.2 identifies the need “for all students to have opportunities for career exploration and investigation, career preparation and skills development.”
These opportunities are even more critical in education-intensive jobs, which demand more diverse skills. Economic growth is increasingly driven by information technology, more sophisticated networks, data analysis, customization and communication advances. Early exposure to these types of skills will help college graduates be better prepared to succeed as they join the workforce.
E2E Convergence will focus on identifying opportunities to enhance these skill development opportunities and ensuring that college graduates have the proper skills to succeed through better aligning higher education and industry. Innovate Indiana is pleased to convene this conversation, with support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
To join the conversation about E2E Convergence, please visit the Innovate Indiana Blog, the E2E Convergence website, or visit Twitter at #ed2employ.
Joe Carley is associate director for economic development with Indiana University’s Office of the Vice President for Engagement. In his role, Carley is focused on connecting IU resources to communities, businesses and government agencies throughout the state to promote economic development. You can contact Joe at jtcarley@iu.edu, 812-855-5369.
Leave a Reply