STATEHOUSE (Sept. 13, 2021) – Morgan County legislators 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, State Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) said 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.
"Next Level Jobs reached an incredible milestone of preparing over 50,000 Hoosiers for some of today's best careers," Mayfield said. "It's a program that's improved the prospects for thousands while giving Indiana a workforce that's trained for increasingly advanced jobs."
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.
State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) 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.
"Many of today's jobs require specialized training, but it's not often easy for working adults to return to school full time," Baird said. "Next Level Jobs bridges the gap for Hoosiers seeking new skills for in-demand occupations without a several-years-long commitment, and gives employers a ready workforce."
State Rep. John Young (R-Franklin) 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.
"Indiana's economy is moving full speed ahead, and employers are looking to add to their rosters and fill open jobs," Young said. "Now is a great time to skill up and start working in a high-demand, high-wage industry, and Next Level Jobs is one of the best ways to get the credentials you need."
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.
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State Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) represents House District 60,
which includes portions of Morgan and Monroe counties.
Click here for a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) represents House District 44,
which includes all of Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen and Parke counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. John Young (R-Franklin) represents House District 47,
which includes portions of Johnson and Morgan counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
