2 bills address Indiana workforce development

And it’s not the first time. State officials have worked at least the last five years to address a skills gap between what workers bring and what employers need. But the answer seems to be elusive.

“We’ve counciled and studied and committeed this thing to death and that hasn’t gotten us very far,” conceded Rep. Todd Huston, R-Pendleton.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Eric Holcomb agree it’s a top priority in 2017 and are working on two bills to address the matter.

The fate of a grant pushed by the administration to aid workers is up in the air; a tax credit for employers has been nixed and a major overhaul of K-12 career-and-technical education dollars seems out.

“We’re having discussions,” House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) said. “That is another issue that will be in flux until we get to the very end here.”