If you’re a high school student wondering what comes after graduation — especially if you like working with your hands, using tech, or building something that matters — here’s important news: Indiana’s advanced-manufacturing world is gearing up big time, and you can be part of it. A new report from Conexus Indiana lays out why four sectors — aerospace, automotive, life sciences and microelectronics — are poised to create major opportunities.
What the report says
- In Indiana, advanced manufacturing employs 25% of the workforce. It’s not just “factory work,” it’s the backbone of our economy.
- Four subsectors are singled out as especially critical:
- Aerospace — building aircraft parts, engines, satellites.
- Automotive — including electric vehicles, mobility systems, powertrain manufacture.
- Life Sciences — medical devices, diagnostics, biopharma and agricultural tech.
- Microelectronics — semiconductors, electronic components, circuits that go into a wide range of products.
- The most in-demand roles cross these sectors: machinists, production operators, quality inspectors, technicians, engineers, software/IT pros.
- The report projects that 178,000 new manufacturing jobs could be created in Indiana by 2033, but nearly 89,000 of those could remain unfilled if there aren’t workers with the skills to do the work.
Why these sectors mean real opportunities for you
- Many paths in: You don’t necessarily need a four-year degree right away. The report shows critical roles have a mix of education levels: some need certificates, some associate degrees, some bachelor’s, so there are many ways in.
- Meaningful, high-tech work: Whether you’re assembling components for a satellite (aerospace), helping build the next-gen EV or mobility system (automotive), making medical devices that save lives (life sciences), or working in microelectronics designing the chips that power everything, you’re doing something cool.
- Strong wages & growth: Workers in these sectors in Indiana earn on average 18% more than the typical worker. In the report, manufacturing workers averaged around $91,927 annually.
- Local access: Since Indiana is heavily involved in all four sectors, many jobs are closer than you might think, so you can plan a future here instead of having to move far away.
How to prepare now and “make what you love”
- Take shop, manufacturing tech, robotics, CAD/design, electronics, or any STEM class your high school offers. These build the hands-on skills employers want.
- Explore internships or job shadowing opportunities at local manufacturers or plant tours. Learn how people do this work today.
- Keep your grades up in math, science and technology classes — they matter for both technical training and for roles that give you more choices.
- Think about your interests: Do you like building, taking things apart, solving problems, using computers and machines? “Make what you love” means you pick a manufacturing role that you enjoy and crafting a career around that interest.
Final thought
The Conexus report makes it clear: Indiana is ready for a manufacturing boom, but only if students like you step into these roles. Whether you’re drawn to aerospace, automotive, life sciences or microelectronics, the opportunities are real, the jobs are growing, and you can build a meaningful career right here in our region.
So, ask yourself: What do I like to do? How could that turn into a tech-enabled manufacturing job? Then start preparing. The future is being built here — and you could be one of the makers.