Teens
EDUCATION
Dream it, do it Jobs out there for employees with technical, vocational skills
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BY KATE COFFMAN It may be hard to believe, but there are many available jobs in Indiana that pay $45,000 or more to entry level employees — and the number of these jobs is growing. But employers are concerned because they cannot find enough quality employees to fill the jobs — commonly called the skills gap. What makes a qualified employee? Employers say they need a high school graduate with the Indiana Technical Honors Diploma and a certificate in advanced manufacturing or logistics from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. These certificates can take as little as six months to a year to complete, quickly putting students on the path to a meaningful and well-paying career. Vocational and technical education has traditionally had a stigma attached to it — it was for kids who weren’t “college material.” Now, career and technical education programs involve state-of-the-art technology, requiring students to possess strong math and computer skills as well as the ability to work as part of a team, adapt to change, and problem-solve. These skills also are necessary for students to make a successful transition from high school to college. Employers in logistics and advanced manufacturing need their employees to possess these skills as well. Conexus Indiana is an organization designed to help promote the state’s opportunities in logistics and applied manufacturing. Conexus has an incredibly informative website for youth called dreamitdoitindiana. com. Students can register with the site to get useful information on high-demand fields, scholarship opportunities, and examples of a “day in the life” of certain jobs. Companies such as FedEx, Allison Transmission, Subaru
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and others are subjects of fun, youth-oriented videos designed to help showcase Indiana’s growing employment needs. The Lumina Foundation, the nation’s largest education foundation, is headquartered in Indianapolis and has found that many students who pursue a technical honors diploma and a one-year certificate continue their education — often on their employer’s dime — and end up earning associate and bachelor’s degrees. These additional degrees, while not required for employment in advanced manufacturing or logistics, help move individuals into management and leadership roles within their companies. Students can learn more about Indiana’s Technical Honors Diploma by talking to their school counselor or visiting the Indiana Department of Education website at doe.in.gov. Taking dual credit, Advanced Placement or early college coursework while in high school also can speed up the time it takes to complete the certificate programs. For more information on planning for education after high school, visit triptocollege.org, a free website brought to you by the Indiana Youth Institute.