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BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – November/December 2017
The biannual
Indiana Vision 2025
Report Card is an
important update of Indiana’s progress on key
measures relative to the 49 other states. The
subsequent statewide outreach/listening tour is no
less critical as it provides the pulse of what is taking
place in communities and regions to help move the
state forward.
Six traditional regional stops (Evansville, Fort Wayne, Hammond,
Indianapolis, Sellersburg and South Bend) brought more than 300 leaders
together in 2017. Additional sessions took place in Bloomington,
Crawfordsville, Kokomo, Richmond and Terre Haute to support
planning efforts in those areas.
This fourth round of forums (in 2012 after the
Indiana Vision 2025
plan was introduced and following Report Card releases in 2013 and
2015) brought at least one significant change from past events.
“We heard a near unanimous focus on talent and workforce
issues,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “In
the past, there was more diversity with various infrastructure needs
and other topics at the forefront. Today, not surprisingly, talent is top
of mind.”
John Burnett and Jack Hess helped facilitate the sessions. They are
partners in CivicLab, part of the Community Education Coalition in
Columbus, and dedicated to advancing community collaborations
across Indiana and around the country. Much of that effort is in the
talent and workforce fields.
The duo shares their perspectives on the Report Card results and
the forums.
Key data takeaways
Jack Hess: “Particularly in education, I think we know we have a
way to go around attainment. The report certainly confirmed that. It
showed we’re making great progress, but maybe not the progress we
need to be making relative to the nation as a whole.
“I was taken aback by the STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics) data, particularly the science and technology degrees
conferred (third in the nation) but percent of population with degrees
(42nd). Forty percent (degrees) vs. 10% (population with those
degrees). Those were some surprising facts, yet present some great
opportunities looking forward.”
John Burnett: “I would echo Jack’s comments. Indiana at 41.1%
and the nation at 45.8% (in population with at least an associate
degree or high-quality credential) in education attainment. If we really
focus in on those credentials and high-quality certificates, it not only
can help us statistically but help more people be better prepared for
economic success – providing connections to those employing people
in manufacturing, health care, information technology to name a few.”
Large STEM gap
Hess: “Part of it is probably structural – the kinds of industries
(Indiana has are) not requiring as many STEM jobs. Indiana is kind of
new to the career pathways game, making the pathways a lot more
visible and understood. We are accelerating the efforts more quickly.
We have to focus (on students) much earlier than we have been – have
to go back almost to when making transitions from elementary school
to middle school and middle school to high school.”
Burnett: “That also connects to the Dynamic and Creative
Culture part of the Report Card as well. A lot of people employed in
large companies tends to cause folks to navigate to those employment
opportunities rather than creative start-ups.
“Those two things are definitely tied. A lot of your
entrepreneurial start-ups tend to be in STEM areas. The lower amount
of start-ups is a causal factor affecting those STEM rates.”
Regional reflections
Burnett: “The topic turned to talent in a very significant way.
Attraction, development, engagement. Bringing new people to the
region and ensuring talent is being developed. That’s always a short-
term need that gets expressed, particularly in low unemployment
times, but it’s encouraging how thoughtful the business community is
Regional Forums Focus on People
TALKING TALENT
By Tom Schuman
Indiana Vision 2025
Ron Christian, 2017 Indiana Chamber board chairman, gives a local
perspective at the regional forum in Evansville, where a large media
contingent reported on the latest Report Card findings.