Ivy Tech Community College and TEConomy Partners Publish First-of-Its-Kind Reskilling/Upskilling Report

The skills needed in the modern workforce are increasing demand for non-traditional modes of learning. In today’s workforce landscape, upskilling for a job is no longer only about getting a bachelor’s degree; instead, it includes non-traditional education models, like training programs, credentials, micro-credentials, certificates, non-credit programs, and other incremental forms of skills training. Employers are increasingly investing in skills training, which is defined as non-credit courses that prepare learners for occupations and careers within high-demand, high-wage industry sectors related to regional, state, and national economies. Skills training program delivery methods range in length (from one/two days to multiple weeks), modality offerings (synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid), and instructional modes (in-person, virtual, or hybrid). They are available year-round and are not restricted by the academic calendar.

The demand for upskilling and reskilling incumbent workers led Ivy Tech to request a planning grant from the Lilly Endowment to understand statewide employer demand for non-traditional skills training. This first-of-its-kind research was designed to estimate the statewide need for employer-driven non-degree credentials, licensures, and certifications. In addition to the research, the grant was used to identify how Ivy Tech and broader workforce ecosystems in the state might collaborate in new and meaningful ways to meet the challenge.

Ivy Tech partnered with TEConomy Partners, a global economic development research firm, to inform this work, resulting in a quantitative demand analysis that estimated the statewide demand for employer-driven skills training. The analysis identified: (1) which Indiana industry sectors represent high performance and areas of emerging opportunities for advancing and accelerating Indiana's economic growth; (2) the types of skills highest in demand in Indiana; and (3) the associated high-demand occupations most likely to require upskilling and reskilling via non-traditional education and training.

This research reaffirmed the key industry sectors that provide high-demand wages in Indiana, including advanced manufacturing; business, logistics, and supply chain; healthcare; and IT. It also highlighted the ways in which Indiana’s economy is changing, with new industry sectors emerging as essential for advancing the state's economic growth over the next decade. These include:

Mobility Systems: Digital competencies in alternative energy, battery systems, and propulsion technologies.

Power and Propulsion: Digital skills needed for on-road and off-road vehicles, aircraft, and marine propulsion.

Life Sciences: Skills ranging from food processing to biopharmaceuticals and agriscience.

Insurance and Insurance Innovations: High-skilled labor in areas disrupted by Al and automation, such as health insurance and mutual insurance companies.

Other Emerging Sectors: The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has identified the Hydrogen Hub, Microelectronics Commons, and HeartlandBioWorks as strategic focus areas based on recent federal technology and innovation designations.

Indiana must develop workforce training programs geared to the specialized needs of these key industry sectors, providing assured pipelines for employers. Doing so will ultimately position Indiana to achieve nationally competitive GDP growth.

See the full report by clicking here.