By Brennan Martin
Indiana students are already thinking about their futures. Through Career+ Pathways™, career interest survey data from grades 8–12 shows clear trends: Healthcare & Social Assistance , Professional Services , and Building & Trades lead student interest.
But how do these preferences compare to actual workforce demand?
When aligned with Indiana labor market data, a critical insight emerges:
The state doesn’t have a job shortage—it has a talent alignment problem.
Indiana Workforce Trends: A Growing Skills Gap
Indiana’s economy is evolving rapidly, with many jobs requiring education or training beyond high school. At the same time, employers report persistent shortages in key sectors.
Key Workforce Insights:
- High demand for skilled workers in healthcare and trades
- Ongoing shortages in mid-skill roles requiring credentials
- Competitive saturation in some professional services careers
The challenge isn’t student ambition—it’s alignment between interest, exposure, and opportunity .
Top Student Career Interests vs Workforce Demand
1. Healthcare & Social Assistance (17%*)
*17% of students participating in the Go For Growth survey expressed interest in this field
Workforce Demand: Critical Shortage
Healthcare is one of Indiana’s fastest-growing and most in-demand sectors. Student interest is strong—but still not enough to meet demand.
Example Careers in Healthcare:
Registered Nurse (RN)
- Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree + licensure
- Entry Salary: $60,000–$65,000
Medical Assistant
- Education: Certificate (≤1 year)
- Entry Salary: $30,000–$38,000
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Education: Master’s degree + licensure
- Entry Salary: $50,000–$60,000
2. Professional Services (10%*)
*10% of students participating in the Go For Growth survey expressed interest in this field
Workforce Demand: Moderate
Fields like law, finance, and real estate are popular—but often misunderstood.
Example Careers in Professional Services:
Accountant
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Entry Salary: $50,000–$60,000
Paralegal
- Education: Associate degree or certificate
- Entry Salary: $40,000–$50,000
Real Estate Agent
- Education: Licensing program
- Entry Salary: ~$40,000+ (variable)
3. Building & Trades (7%)
*7% of students participating in the Go For Growth survey expressed interest in this field
Workforce Demand: Critical Shortage
This is Indiana’s most significant workforce gap.
Example Careers in Skilled Trades:
Electrician
- Education: Apprenticeship
- Entry Salary: $40,000–$50,000
HVAC Technician
- Education: Certificate or apprenticeship
- Entry Salary: $40,000–$48,000
Welder
- Education: Technical certificate
- Entry Salary: $38,000–$45,000
Why the Gap Exists
Students are not choosing incorrectly—they are making decisions based on limited exposure to the full range of available opportunities. Many lack awareness of high-demand careers, particularly in fields like the skilled trades and certain healthcare roles, while being overexposed to more familiar professions such as those in professional services. At the same time, students often have an incomplete understanding of key factors like salary potential, required education, and career progression. Without consistent, early interaction with employers, these gaps persist, leaving students to navigate important decisions without the context needed to fully align their interests with real-world opportunities.
How Schools Can Close the Workforce Gap
1. Start Career Exploration Earlier
Introduce career pathways as early as elementary school, before decisions narrow.
- Build awareness across industries
- Normalize multiple postsecondary pathways
- Use interest data dynamically
2. Increase Employer Engagement
Students make better decisions when they interact with real professionals.
High-impact strategies:
- Job shadows
- Workplace tours
- Guest speakers
- Virtual career panels
3. Expand Career Visibility Within Industries
Students often see only a fraction of available roles.
Example:
- Healthcare includes clinical, technical, and administrative roles
- Trades include advanced, tech-driven careers
- Professional services span multiple entry points
4. Provide Transparent Career Data
Students and families need clear answers to:
- What education is required?
- How long will it take?
- What will it cost?
- What can I earn?
This transparency directly influences decision-making.
5. Connect Exploration to Real Outcomes
Career exploration should lead to:
- Work-based learning
- Credential attainment
- Employment pipelines
This ensures students move from interest → experience → employment .
Where Career+ Pathways™ Fits In
Career+ Pathways™ provides schools with a structured, scalable way to directly connect students to meaningful work-based learning experiences. Through a robust network of school, employer, and community partners, students gain access to a continuum of opportunities—from early exposure like career talks and workplace tours, to deeper engagement through micro-internships and registered apprenticeships. This progression ensures that career exploration is not just theoretical, but experiential—helping students build confidence, develop real-world skills, and make informed decisions about their futures while creating stronger, more aligned talent pipelines for Indiana employers.
The Career+ Pathways™ platform also serves as a centralized hub for all stakeholders—students, teachers, administrators, employers, and community partners—to track and measure participation in career-related experiences. It allows schools and partners to gather and securely store critical data, manage agreements, and monitor employment or internship progress. Students’ interests and skills are continually refined as the platform captures interactions, feedback, and experiences, enabling dynamic digital portfolios that evolve over time. This holistic visibility ensures that every participant in the ecosystem can make informed decisions, demonstrate impact, and continuously improve the alignment between learning, career exploration, and workforce readiness.
The Bottom Line
Indiana students are engaged and motivated—but without structured guidance, high-demand careers remain under-selected.
- Healthcare: Strong alignment, still undersupplied
- Professional Services: High interest, moderate demand
- Trades: Low interest, critical shortage
The opportunity is clear:
When students see what’s possible, they choose differently.
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.
