Vanderburgh County Lawmakers Urge Hoosiers to Connect To Free training, Careers in A Fast-Growing fields
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 9, 2021) – Vanderburgh County lawmakers urge Hoosiers to join the thousands who are already taking advantage of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs certificate program to skill up at no cost and obtain a higher-paying job.
With many high-wage positions requiring specially trained workers, Hoosiers can skill up for free with a Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant, which covers tuition costs for those earning a high-value certificate from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. Since launching in 2017, more than 50,000 Hoosiers have enrolled to complete a high-demand certificate program through Indiana’s Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant.
“Thousands of Hoosiers have already taken that first step to an exciting new career path,” said State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville). “A high-value certificate through Next Level Jobs will open up a lot of rewarding career opportunities for local job seekers.”
According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, those who earn a Workforce Ready Grant certificate see an annual median wage increase of $6,800.
“These grants help Hoosiers obtain higher-paying jobs to support their families,” said State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville). “If you’re looking for a career change to earn more money, the Next Level Jobs program can help you achieve that goal.”
O’Brien said the program is designed so that participants can continue to work while earning a certificate in 1 of 5 in-demand job fields, including health and life sciences, IT and business services, building and construction, transportation and logistics, and advanced manufacturing. To learn more about Workforce Ready Grants, visit NextLevelJobs.org.
McNamara said to connect to a career in a fast-growing field today, Hoosiers can also visit IndianaCareerReady.com/INDemandJobs. This website helps job seekers easily explore industries experiencing significant growth, both in the number of hires and in rising wages. High-demand jobs in Indiana include nurses, accountants, computer systems analysts, construction managers, electricians, plumbers and software developers. The web portal offers a sortable list displaying the educational requirements, average salary, job postings and training opportunities for each occupation.
