In it’s latest “Biz Report,” the Indiana Chamber released some disheartening information regarding economic growth.

According to the chamber’s eighth annual employer workforce survey, an alarming number of workers are not prepared for on-the-job success. The chamber polled many Indiana business leaders and received more than 500 responses.

While the majority of business leaders believe the size of the state’s workforce will increase over the next 1-2 years, but filling those positions will prove to be a considerable challenge. Seventy-four percent of them reported that finding workers with the necessary skills would be a challenge, and 24 percent claimed it would be their biggest challenge – an increase from the 2014 survey. Even worse, 43 percent reported they have left jobs unfilled due to unqualified candidates. Not to mention, Baby Boomers are leaving the workforce in droves for retirement, producing more openings every day.

(Courtesy of the Indiana Chamber)

“The continued positive outlook from Indiana employers is encouraging,” contends Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “But despite various programs and local examples of strong education-business connections, it’s clear that much more work remains to provide workers with the skills they need for today’s and tomorrow’s jobs.”

A recent study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, entitled “The Skills Gap In U.S. Manufacturing: 2015 and Beyond,” projects that in the U.S. manufacturing industry – a major contributor to Kosciusko County’s economy – “over the next decade nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs likely need to be filled. The skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled.”

What’s more alarming, the study also stated that 80 percent of manufacturing executives are willing to pay more than market rates for qualified talent. However, six out of 10 positions go unfilled due to talent shortage. Deloitte attributes this talent shortage in the manufacturing industry to a negative view of the industry coupled with a scarcity of STEM talent in high schools.

(Courtesy of the Indiana Chamber)

“We cannot fully realize the renaissance of U.S. manufacturing unless and until we solve the manufacturing skills gap,” said Dr. Charles Blankenship, president and CEO of GE Appliances and Lighting, in Deloitte’s report. “By aligning together and clearly defining their needs – and speaking with one voice, they can work with secondary and post-secondary schools and government to create a system that attracts, develops and retains skilled manufacturing talent.”

Based on its survey, the Indiana Chamber noted that the following will be key to closing the skills gap:

• Developing  critical thinking skills and personal qualities, such as responsibility, work ethic and willingness to learn.
• Increase business-education partnerships to strengthen engagement between businesses and secondary and post-secondary students.
• Foster experiential learning opportunities like internships.
• Stress the importance of “soft skills” such as like attendance, discipline and teamwork.

Locally, area schools are developing programs to address the skills gap. Warsaw Community Schools has already started a STEM program, and Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley schools are offering courses designed to prepare high school students for technical jobs.

(Courtesy of the Indiana Chamber)

Couple that with community support, such as the recently-announced Kosciusko County Promise, and progressive programs like Kosciusko Economic Development Corporations Come Home Kosciusko – Kosciusko County is well-equipped for closing the skills gap and preparing the incoming workforce for these job openings.