INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Future funding of grants for adults who want to pursue new careers will come under discussion at upcoming General Assembly committee meetings.

Those adults would need to seek careers in high-demand jobs under a series of definitions that may be tweaked in the meetings.

Developing a 21st century skilled workforce is among Gov. Eric Holcomb’s five pillars for his administration’s agenda.

“Change is coming at us fast,” Holcomb told a higher education conference this week. “This is going to require more training, more education and lifelong learning if we’re not only going to keep leading but to continue to lead.”

Two legislative bills have proposals to establish a Workforce Ready grant for adults who want college certificates for new jobs in, for example, nursing or welding. The definition of high-demand jobs is to be determined with input by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, which collects job data by regions.

The department would also track and update job demands.

“Right now we have such a huge gap in what employers need for skilled employees that we think this will complement what we’re already doing,” Teresa Lubbers, Indiana’s higher education commissioner, said in an interview with CNHI. “But it’s going to require real-time information on employers needs, and it’s going to require an understanding of what the needs are for the future,”

Conference committees are expected to meet next week to iron out differences between House and Senate bills.

For example, in House Bill 1008 and Senate Bill 198, there is overlapping language on what agency defines high-demand jobs. Lubbers said she is confident that the Workforce Ready grant provision will stay intact.

As proposed, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education would receive $2 million annually to implement the grant program. The funds would be used in tandem with about $7.5 million in adult education grants.

Grants awarded to students in financial need, such as PELL grants, would supplement the funding.

Workforce Ready could serve thousands of Indiana workers, Lubbers said.

Since 2012, the number of college certificates given to Hoosiers has risen from 12,910 to 17,000.

On average, Hoosiers can earn 20 percent more with a certificate as opposed to solely having a high school diploma.

“The benefit of this to the state is that we’re increasing incomes, we’re meeting employer needs, we’re diversifying and strengthening the economy,” Lubbers said.

She acknowledged the difficulty in keeping up with changing technologies and employer demands.

“I do think that the challenge for us is not only to identify on a more real-time basis what the needs are but also be able to articulate to the people who get those credentials what changes might occur in the economy going forward that might require them to even continue to skill up,” Lubber said.

Hoosiers workers are being asked to adapt to a shifting workforce as part of a changing culture.

“The culture shift is one that is telling Hoosiers that some sort of education and training beyond high school is more important than ever,” Lubbers said. “And then on the other side it’s telling people that what you prepared for, for a first job, will likely not be adequate for a career.”

Future hot jobs

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development has listed as the top 10 jobs of the future: registered nurse, K-12 teacher, truck driver; sales representative; general and operations manager; licensed practical nurse; post-secondary teacher; accountant; office manager; and electrician.