Creating jobs for Hoosiers has been and continues to be my priority. That’s why I supported House Bill 1001 that made Indiana the 23rd state to pass Right to Work (RTW) legislation.
Since Indiana became a RTW state on Feb. 1 of this year, 65 companies have communicated to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) that Indiana’s enactment of RTW will factor into their decision-making process of where to locate or expand their current projects. Seventeen companies have already accepted the IEDC’s offer, accounting for more than 1,600 projected new jobs and more than $259 million in investment.
Last week, the IEDC announced that so far this year it has worked with 145 companies that have made decisions to expand or establish new business operations in Indiana for a total of nearly 13,300 projected new jobs.
In May, Gov. Daniels announced the expansion of One Click Internet Ventures, LLC in Greenwood. The national e-commerce company plans to create up to 110 new jobs by 2015.
Indiana’s business environment has been making headlines across the country. In May, Indiana ranked sixth in the nation for its business climate according to Site Selection magazine. Indiana ranks fifth in Chief Executive magazine’s “Best States for Business” report.
Recent unemployment numbers show Indiana faring better than the national average. Indiana’s unemployment rate (June 2012) is 8 percent compared to the national rate of 8.3 percent. I’d obviously like to see this figure lowered, but I am encouraged that we are seeing improvement from the same time last year when the state and national unemployment rate were both 9.1 percent.
For Hoosiers seeking employment, websites like IndianaCareerConnect.com can help match careers with skill sets and experiences. The Web site also provides training opportunities to help job seekers get a desired position. Employers can post jobs and access thousands of Hoosier job candidates through customized searches that allow them to find candidates with the skills and qualifications that fit their needs.
I hope we will continue to build upon the good stewardship of these past two years and work to help create an environment that can continue to grow and expand Hoosier job opportunities.
