The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently unveiled the "Hoosier Hot 50" jobs list, a tool which provides Hoosiers an insight into the most in-demand and high paying careers in today's job market and in the future. First introduced in 2006, the Hoosier Hot 50 is published every two years by DWD. The 2012 installment lists the top 50 jobs of out of approximately 300 reviewed for the program to showcase the most high-wage and in-demand jobs of today in Indiana, through 2020.

The 2012 Hoosier Hot 50 features a new website with video profiles of Hoosiers currently working in each position. The profiles provide viewers an inside look at a typical day on the job, how they broke into that field and what each person enjoys about their job. Each profile also includes data on the number of projected job openings by 2020, average salary and the education and/or training required for that career.

"The Hoosier Hot 50 is a wonderful tool to help Hoosiers of all ages identify the skills they need for the job market of the future as well as today," said Scott B. Sanders, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. "It is also important to note the majority of the jobs profiled require at the very least post secondary vocational training or an associate degree. This definitely highlights the need for us all to be life-long learners and to not stop at a high school diploma or GED." 

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Hoosier Hot 50 Jobs

Indianapolis Executive Airport contributes over $430 million in annual economic output and creates and sustains nearly 2,400 jobs with a payroll of nearly $125 million annually in Hamilton and Boone counties. This underscores the vital role airports play in the economic vitality of local communities and the state of Indiana.

These data were released earlier this week by the Aviation Association of Indiana (AAI) and Conexus Indiana as part of the 2012 Indiana Airports' Economic Impact Study. Both AAI and Conexus Indiana are statewide industry-focused organizations with a common goal of supporting Indiana's airports and leveraging their impact on Indiana's economy. In total, Indiana's 69 public-use airports, as part of the State's Aviation System Plan, contribute $14.1 billion in economic output and create and sustain more than 69,000 jobs in Indiana.

The AAI and Conexus Indiana partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to develop the 24-page report that outlines the economic benefits of Indiana's airports to the State of Indiana, with specific details on how each airport, including Indianapolis Executive Airport impacts local municipalities and the state. Click here to continue reading.

Wondering what the small business climate will look like in 2013?  Small business owners, especially, are unsure of what to expect when there are so many unanswered questions concerning both the global and domestic economy such as:

• What will the regulatory climate look like with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act?
• What will be the highest marginal tax rate?
• Will there be entitlement reform and how will it be structured?
• Will we see an increase in interest rates?
• How likely is a default in Greece or any other member of the EU?
• Will a continued slowdown in Chinese GDP put a halt to any kind of economic recovery in the US?

At this point, most believe that the answers to these types of questions are largely in limbo.  In an effort to get some kind of idea as to where the economy is headed and where entrepreneurs are most concerned, I decided to look for some anecdotal clues from some incredible value and job creators: Inner City 100 winners.  Over the course of fourteen years, Inner City 100 winners employ over 103,000 people (40% of which are inner city residents) while creating nearly 73,000 new jobs and growing at an average year-over-year rate of roughly 50%.  I figured that asking members of a group that has shown incredible success over a long period of time might give us some clues as to how they are managing these uncertain economic times. Click here to continue reading.