Study: Northeast Indiana experiencing critical talent shortage

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)— A study conducted by the Don Wood and Questa Education Foundations indicated that northeast Indiana is facing a “critical talent shortage” for high-demand, high-wage jobs.

Research for this study began in late 2022 in response to feedback from regional scholarship providers to identify answers to three questions:

• 1) What are the regional talent needs and educational/training requirements for success?
• 2) What are the financial barriers to getting learners to enrollment and making it to
  completion?
• 3) What are the nonfinancial barriers, and how can they be targeted for maximum success?

The Don Wood Foundation said in a press release on Monday, “Northeast Indiana is not graduating enough students with postsecondary credentials to meet employers’ demand for talent in high-demand, high-wage (HDHW) occupations.” In five years, northeast Indiana employers will be facing a shortage of 6,500 and 8,000 workers needing a bachelor’s degree, according to the study results.

The foundation defined postsecondary credentials as, “recognition of formal training or education verifying qualifications or competence in specific fields.” This can include not just degrees, but also certificates and certifications.

High-demand, high-wage jobs are occupations in northeast Indiana that are projected to grow over the next five years, have a low risk of automation, require some form of postsecondary credential, and meet the living wage threshold. The average wage of high-demand, high-wage jobs is $34.28 per hour.

The results said while nearly two-thirds of the openings for HDHW jobs in the next five years require a bachelor’s degree, northeast Indiana colleges and universities have seen a 17% decline in bachelor’s degree completion and a 15% decrease in associate degree completions since 2017.

“We wanted to bring this data to light for northeast Indiana,” Laura Macknick, president and CEO of the Don Wood Foundation, said. “And try to convene all the key stakeholders in the region to come around this issue collectively and begin to find comprehensive solutions to what is a convoluted problem.”

While the Don Wood Foundation usually focuses on supporting workers in the manufacturing industry, this study found one of the primary fields in need of workers is medical care.

The foundation said the primary reason for declining enrollment in postsecondary education in northeast Indiana is financial barriers. Even though the foundation said significant aid is often available, it can be hard to access and is underutilized.

Many prospective students involved in the study expressed extreme hesitancy to take on student debt. But, $70 million in aid is unclaimed by Hoosiers each year. Additionally, while 60-70% of Indiana employers offer tuition assistance, fewer than 5% of eligible employees take advantage of those benefits.

To combat the issues uncovered in this study, the Don Wood Foundation is now creating the Coalition for Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training. They hope it serves as a call to action for improving access to education and training so northeast Indiana employers can meet current and future talent needs.

“We want to try and dismantle that conversation about whether you have to choose college or the trades,” Macknick said. “But rather, reframe it as an opportunity for lifelong learning for students going forward, both high school students and adult learners.”

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