By Brennan Martin
A Growing Crisis: Healthcare Workforce Shortage in Indiana
Indiana’s healthcare sector is expanding rapidly—but the workforce pipeline isn’t keeping up.
Recent data shows:
- Healthcare employment in Indiana grew by 4.2% in a single year , adding over 12,000 new jobs
- 67–71 of Indiana’s 92 counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
- ~5,000 additional nurses needed by 2030–2031 to meet demand
- Approximately 4,300 nursing openings per year already exist across the state
- Unlike physicians, the issue isn’t just pipeline—it’s also retention and burnout . Large numbers of nurses left during and after COVID.
- Indiana’s workforce is aging, with a significant portion nearing retirement.
There are regional and role-specific shortages , especially in:
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
- Rural healthcare settings
- Specialized care (ICU, maternal health)
At the same time, demand continues to rise due to:
- Aging populations
- Chronic disease prevalence (over 14% of Hoosiers have multiple conditions)
- Increased reliance on healthcare as a primary economic driver
Nationally, healthcare is now the fastest-growing employment sector , accounting for the majority of new job creation in recent months
The takeaway: Demand is accelerating—but the talent pipeline is not.
Why the Healthcare Talent Pipeline Is Falling Behind
The shortage is not simply a workforce issue—it’s a pipeline issue .
Students are interested in healthcare (17% in Career+ Pathways™ data), but:
- They often only see a narrow set of roles (doctor, nurse)
- They lack understanding of entry points and career ladders
- They have limited early exposure to real healthcare environments
- They don’t always connect education pathways to careers
Meanwhile, employers struggle with:
- Burnout and turnover
- Limited access to trained candidates
- Geographic maldistribution (especially rural areas)
This creates a disconnect between:
Student interest → Career awareness → Workforce entry
High-Demand Healthcare Careers in Indiana
Healthcare is not a single pathway—it’s a complex ecosystem of careers across clinical, technical, and administrative roles.
Here are examples of in-demand careers in Indiana , including education requirements and entry-level salaries:
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
- Education: Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2–4 years)
- Entry Salary (IN): ~$60,000–$70,000
- Why it matters: Critical shortage statewide; backbone of patient care
2. Medical Assistant
- Education: Certificate (6–12 months)
- Entry Salary: ~$30,000–$38,000
- Why it matters: Fast entry point into healthcare; high demand in clinics
3. Respiratory Therapist
- Education: Associate degree
- Entry Salary: ~$55,000–$65,000
- Why it matters: Essential for chronic and emergency care
4. Health Information Technician
- Education: Certificate or Associate degree
- Entry Salary: ~$45,000–$55,000
- Why it matters: Growing demand with digital health systems
5. Behavioral Health Specialist
- Education: Bachelor’s (entry), Master’s (advanced roles)
- Entry Salary: ~$40,000–$50,000
- Why it matters: Major shortage in mental health services across Indiana
These roles highlight a key insight:
Not all healthcare careers require 8+ years of education—but students rarely know that.
Education Pathways: Multiple On-Ramps into Healthcare Careers
One of the biggest misconceptions students face is that healthcare careers are limited to physicians.
In reality, Indiana offers multiple pathways :
- Short-term credentials (6–12 months): Medical assistants, CNAs
- Associate degrees (2 years): Nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy
- Bachelor’s degrees (4 years): Healthcare administration, public health
- Advanced degrees: Physicians, specialists, psychologists
The challenge isn’t availability—it’s visibility and guidance .
The Role of Early Exposure in Solving the Shortage
Research consistently shows that early career exposure drives better decision-making .
Students are far more likely to pursue healthcare careers when they:
- Participate in job shadows or workplace tours
- Engage with healthcare professionals
- Experience clinical or simulated environments
- Understand real-world applications of their coursework
Without this exposure, students default to:
- Familiar roles
- Limited understanding
- Misaligned career decisions
This is where systems—and strategy—must evolve.
How Career+ Pathways™ Helps Address Healthcare Workforce Gaps
Career+ Pathways™ is designed to bridge the gap between student interest and workforce demand .
The platform enables schools to:
- Connect students with real healthcare employers
- Offer experiences from career awareness to hands-on work-based learning
- Track participation across job shadows, workplace tours, microinternships, apprenticeships, etc
- Facilitate certification while still in high school
By integrating:
- Student interest data
- Career exploration activities
- Employer engagement
- Workforce outcomes
Career+ Pathways™ helps schools:
- Align student experiences with high-demand careers
- Expand exposure to diverse healthcare roles
- Build sustainable talent pipelines for employers
What Optimal Outcomes Look Like
When systems are aligned, the results are clear:
Students:
- Understand the full spectrum of healthcare careers
- Explore pathways early and often
- Gain real-world experience before graduation
- Make informed postsecondary decisions
Schools:
- Move beyond compliance to measurable impact
- Align programs with workforce demand
- Strengthen employer partnerships
Employers:
- Gain access to a prepared, engaged talent pipeline
- Reduce hiring gaps and turnover
- Build long-term workforce sustainability
From Shortage to Strategy: A Call to Action
Indiana doesn’t have a lack of student interest in healthcare.
It has a lack of alignment between interest, exposure, and opportunity .
Solving the healthcare workforce shortage requires:
- Earlier career exploration
- Stronger employer engagement
- Clear education pathways
- Better use of data
Continue Exploring
Read: Indiana Career Interest vs Workforce Demand: Where Students Align—and Where Gaps Remain
Explore: From Compliance to Clarity: Rethinking Career Readiness Data
See how Career+ Pathways™ and ASPIN are helping students earn healthcare credentials, gain real-world experience, and enter high-demand healthcare careers through the Community Health Worker (CHW) program. Click here .
Final Thought
The future of healthcare in Indiana depends on the decisions students make today.
The question is no longer whether students are interested.
It’s whether we’re giving them the visibility, access, and guidance to turn that interest into a career.
Bio
Brennan Martin is a project manager and operational leader supporting the scale and execution of Career+ Pathways™ across Indiana. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, reading, and creative crafts. Brennan recently spent more than two years living in Türkiye, where she developed a deep love for the country’s culture, history, language, and incredible cuisine—and she hopes to spend more time there in the future.
