Next-Gen Manufacturing Workforce White Paper (2026)

An Analysis of Manufacturing Employment in NEI-12

How Data Is Informing Next-Gen Workforce Strategies Across the 12 Counties of NE Indiana

To guide Next-Gen Manufacturing workforce development, the Don Wood Foundation partnered with Purdue Fort Wayne to analyze employment in NEI-12. PFW combined survey data, focus groups, interviews, and labor market analysis to benchmark local trends against state and national data. This work produced 20+ key insights that can inform regional workforce strategies.