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For decades, elected leaders have built campaigns and administrations to combat Indiana’s brain drain, seeking new ways to thwart the departure of Indiana students after they complete their education. It’s a challenge that is undeniable.
Data from the Indiana Business Research Center reveals that only 61% of Indiana college students who earn a bachelor’s degree are still employed in the state one year later. That number drops to a staggering 55% after five years.
The loss of these high-potential Hoosiers remains a significant risk to Indiana’s economic future. Leaders in education, business and government must continue to see this data as a compelling call to action and continue to create, measure and optimize programs that retain these graduates. The state’s future depends on them, and the taxpayers who fund Indiana’s public higher education institutions deserve a return on their investment.
While stemming the flow of outbound educated talent must remain a priority, it cannot remain the only strategy. Leaders must also look to the 45% of graduates who leave Indiana within five years as a promising additional source of educated talent to meet the future workforce needs of the state, particularly in high-demand industries facing persistent shortages.
These Indiana-connected professionals are likely to have family and friends here, and they have experienced Indiana and its quality of life firsthand. Since leaving, they have amassed career experiences, been exposed to markets beyond Indiana’s borders and perhaps have a distant memory and passive appreciation for the connectedness that permeates every industry and community across Indiana.
That connectedness might be the key to attracting Indiana-connected professionals back to the state. While disciplined, research-driven programs are warranted, action need not wait. Many communities and institutions have already assessed their existing workforce capabilities and identified the talent needed to build the next chapter of growth. Armed with that data, leaders in government, business and academia should engage personally to identify Indiana-connected professionals and welcome them back to experience the state with a fresh perspective and build the next era of growth.
Imagine the impact of a senior elected official, a university leader, a business leader or a community leader personally reaching out to an out-of-state Indiana-connected professional whose career experiences match a community’s needs. The outreach could be as simple as a congratulatory note recognizing achievements or as bold as an invitation to return for a gathering where Indiana’s connectedness and quality of life take center stage.
Rather than relying on a hard sell, these simple acts of leadership engagement create an atypical personal connection between talent and a community that can differentiate and amplify the magnetic pull back to Indiana that many feel as careers advance and family priorities evolve.
Leaders must review their network and their network’s network to identify candidates whose skills meet the needs of their community. Once candidates are identified, leaders can find opportunities to architect experiences that hold promise to welcome these high-potential professionals back. Based on the candidate, these experiences could range from an invitation to a civic meeting, sporting event or festival to a personal visit.
Equipped with a list of candidates and well-crafted experiences, leaders can put into action an effort that welcomes back Indiana-connected talent and positions Indiana as the destination for the next chapter of growth.
Let’s make it happen.•
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Frazier is president of IBJ Media. You can reach him at [email protected].
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