While the skills gap seems like a daunting issue to bridge for our state, we are always inspired when we get to work with programs that are taking a proactive approach to combatting it. As a representative of Ready Indiana, I recently visited JAG Indiana classes at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis to talk to students about the skills gap, their futures and how IndianaSkills.com can help them as they make career choices.

JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) is a school-to-career program implemented in 700 high schools, alternative schools, community colleges and middle schools across the country and United Kingdom. JAG's mission is to keep young people in school through graduation and provide work-based learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities, or to enroll in a postsecondary institution that leads to a rewarding career. This is the program’s fifth year in Indiana.

We were floored when we asked the group of students what they thought the most-requested job in Indiana was and one student immediately said “truck driver.” That was exactly right! And you can find the Top 10 List of high-demand jobs in Indiana on IndianaSkills.com as well as many other data lists.