Jobs & Economy

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Without question, the economic recession hit Indiana hard.  Some counties saw unemployment rise above 20%, and thousands of Hoosiers became unemployed or underemployed. While the economy statewide is rebounding and some regions are beginning to see the first signs of growth in years, there is still work to be done. Joe has long-said that he will not stop working until every Hoosier who wants a job has a job. He will continue working with local, state, and federal officials to keep jobs in Indiana and attract businesses looking to expand operations.

Hoosier workers are among the best in the world, and Indiana has a long tradition of small business and manufacturing success. By supporting common sense policies that don’t overburden businesses and promote companies to expand and innovate, Indiana has the potential to lead the country in job growth for years to come.

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Closing the Skills Gap

Through his travels across Indiana, Joe has spoken with employers, educators, workers, and students about the existing “skills gap” between the skills job seekers have and skills employers need to fill the positions available right now. It is estimated that close to 600,000 manufacturing jobs are currently going unfilled across the country because employers cannot find workers with the skills to fill them. Joe looks forward to the day when instead of workers competing for the same job, jobs compete for the same worker, but in the meantime, he’s working to help close this gap.

That is why Joe helped introduce the bipartisan AMERICA Works Act. With this bill, federal training programs would be modified to place a priority on programs and certifications demanded by today’s industries. The improvements made in this bill would benefit both workers and employers, as workers would know that the time they spend training is more likely to lead to employment in a well-paying job, and employers would be more likely to hire people whom they know have the training they need to be productive on day one.

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Further, Joe introduced the Skills Gap Strategy Act with Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), which would direct the Secretary of Labor to develop a strategy to help close the “skills gap” by increasing on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities. It would encourage the Department of Labor to develop plans in consultation with the Departments of Commerce and Education to increase employer participation in education and workforce training.  Recognizing current budgetary constraints, the bill asks the Department of Labor to focus on solutions that utilize existing resources, programs, and personnel. Closing the skills gap must be an employer-driven effort, but the federal government can help.

Joe wants every Hoosier who wants a job to have a job, and through the AMERICA Works Act and the Skills Gap Strategy Act, many more hard-working Hoosiers would have the opportunity to gain the skills employers need for jobs available now.  

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