Tomorrow (June 11), the Indiana Chamber is releasing Indiana Vision 2025: 2020 Snapshot, which evaluates Indiana against its Midwest neighbors (Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio) and five competitor states (Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah). It also includes Indiana regional data.
The purpose of the Snapshot is to offer statistical analyses that inform debate and help establish priorities moving forward.
You’ll have to wait another 24 hours to get the complete insight on Indiana’s performance on metrics such as per capita income, high school graduation rate and health-related matters, but I can share a few datapoints related to technology and entrepreneurship.
- According to U.S. Census data, 81.9% of Hoosiers claim to have a residential internet high-speed connection, which ranks Indiana 37th best nationally – 1.5% more than the previous year when Indiana ranked 38th. This places Indiana fourth out of five among our neighboring states and fifth out of six against our competitors.
- Per the Federal Communications Commission, nearly 90% of Hoosiers have access to fixed high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity at speeds that meet FCC standards, which ranks Indiana 32nd nationally – 3% more than the previous year when Indiana ranked 35th. This places Indiana fourth out of five among the Midwest states and last against the five competitors.
- According to the Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship, Indiana remains in the bottom 10 nationally for the percentage of adults who start a new business each month – ranking 44th (0.207%). This also places Indiana fourth out of five among our neighbors and fifth out of six against our competitors. However, no state covered in the Snapshot ranks in the top half of all states, with Utah best at 26th.
The metrics I am previewing here are not glamorous for Indiana. The measures are what they are, but it should be noted that the data are not necessarily “real time,” meaning we use the most recently available national data regardless of the year it was collected.
Anecdotal evidence of Indiana’s performance is also important to consider. By all accounts, broadband infrastructure in Indiana has weathered the recent storm quite admirably. No reports from providers of “too much weight on the system” have limited Hoosiers in working and learning from home.
Unfortunately, many Hoosiers are unemployed. If their jobs are gone forever, then their two best options are to find a new employer or start a business. As the Snapshot will show, Indiana is a great place to live and start and grow a business. We are the only state among our neighbors with a positive net domestic migration, and we rank highly in the Small Business Policy Index and Regulatory Freedom Index.
As mentioned, Indiana Vision 2025 and the interim reports are intended to inform debate and help shape public policy priorities. Certainly, there is work ahead, but one just needs to look where we were 20 years ago to see how far we have come: “Job Creation” – 50th; “Job Growth” – 50th; “Economic Momentum” – 50th and Indiana was the only state to suffer a net loss of technology jobs from 1994-2000.
With the progress the state has made in recent years to prioritize broadband access, skill up the workforce and maintain its fiscal stewardship, Indiana is well positioned to improve its rankings and remain a beacon for talent. The Snapshot will serve as a resource for policymakers and lawmakers on the front lines of helping ensure this success.
