Rep. Lehman urges Hoosiers to connect to free training, careers in fast-growing fields

Over 50,000 Hoosiers taking advantage of Next Level Jobs certificate program

Posted by: Courtney E Heiden  | Wednesday, September 15, 2021

STATEHOUSE (Sept. 15, 2021) – State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) urges 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, Lehman 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.

"Now is the time to seize this free opportunity and advance your career," Lehman said. "Locally, Ivy Tech offers several certificate programs covered by Next Level Jobs and they are ready to prepare Hoosiers to work in high-demand industries. It only takes about 10 minutes to apply, so go online today and take charge of your future."  

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.
Lehman 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.

To connect to a career in a fast-growing field today, Hoosiers can also visit IndianaCareerReady.com/INDemandJobs. Lehman said the 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.

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State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) represents House District 79,
which includes all of Adams County and portions of Allen and Wells counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.