Indiana Career Council gets final legislative nod

A proposal is on its way to Gov. Mike Pence for creating a statewide jobs council aimed at closing Indiana's "skills gap" and to help lower its stubbornly high unemployment rate.

The House voted unanimously Thursday to give final legislative approval to the bill creating a 16-member Indiana Career Council led by the governor with government, education and business leaders. By December it's supposed to prepare a plan for matching Indiana's workforce training programs and available jobs.

House Speaker Brian Bosma says the council will gather details about available training programs that are spread among several state agencies.

Supporters of the proposed council say many Indiana companies have jobs available but that many applicants lack the necessary training at a time when the state's jobless rate remains above 8 percent.