INDIANA – Indiana Governor Mike Braun highlighted a record-setting year for Indiana’s economy, marking 2025 as a year defined by higher wages, disciplined growth and a renewed focus on region-led economic development that is delivering results for Hoosiers across the state.
“My first year as Governor proved that when we focus on quality jobs, empower our regions and align state government around clear priorities, Indiana wins,” said Gov. Braun. “We are creating higher-wage opportunities, strengthening communities and positioning Indiana to compete and lead for decades to come.”
A Record Year Built on Discipline and Alignment
Under Gov. Braun’s leadership, Indiana implemented a clear economic strategy centered on wage growth, taxpayer value and regional leadership. Two executive orders issued early in the administration – EO 25-44 on wages and job quality and EO 25-45 establishing a region-led model – shaped how the state approaches economic development: raising standards for job quality and reaffirming a region-led model that puts local priorities at the center of growth.
The results were measurable and historic:
- Average wages for new jobs reached a new record high in early December of $40.06 per hour.
- Wages increased 10% year over year, outpacing national growth.
- Nearly 11,000 new jobs were committed statewide.
- The cost per incentivized job declined by 68%, saving $349 million for Hoosier taxpayers.
- Indiana’s economy outperformed the nation and the Midwest in real GDP growth and employment trends.
“These outcomes didn’t happen by chance,” said Secretary of Commerce David J. Adams. “2025 was about building the systems required for long-term growth, and those systems are delivering results that support a more robust economy.”
Region-Led Growth
Indiana’s 15 economic regions, validated in 2025 by independent analysis from Indiana University’s Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC), continue to translate years of planning into tangible progress through the Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).
Across the State:
- 779 READI projects are underway.
- $1.25 billion in public investment is at work.
- More than $19 billion in private-sector match has been leveraged.
- Every dollar awarded through READI has generated a 20-to-1 return.
From revitalizing blighted properties and transforming former industrial sites into mixed-use destinations, to building innovation districts and workforce infrastructure, READI investments are strengthening communities and unlocking long-term economic growth. Projects such as the transformation of the former Jeffboat shipyard into a $1 billion mixed-use district and the redevelopment of the former Duneland Middle School into a new Healthy Living Campus illustrate how region-led plans are becoming real places.
Powering Indiana’s Workforce
Indiana’s economy is powered by its people, and in 2025 the state doubled down on upskilling the workforce it already has through Power Up Indiana. More than 30,000 Indiana employers across all 15 regions are investing in training and career advancement to meet immediate business needs while creating higher-wage opportunities for Hoosier workers.
This employer-driven approach is helping the state’s workforce move into higher-skill roles without leaving their communities – strengthening businesses, improving retention and supporting long-term competitiveness statewide.
Entrepreneurship Momentum
Entrepreneurship remained a core engine of growth in 2025, with Indiana climbing rapidly in national rankings for new business creation and survival. Once ranked near the bottom, Indiana now ranks:
- 12th nationally for the rate of new entrepreneurs, jumping 31 spots since 2021.
- Top 5 for startup and small business survival.
- Home of the highest level of new business formation since 1998.
Nearly half of Indiana’s workforce is employed by small businesses, reinforcing the importance of supporting founders, family-owned companies and Main Street economies across all regions.
Momentum that Carries Forward
As Indiana enters 2026, that foundation for sustained growth is firmly in place and built on higher wages, strong region-led growth, disciplined investment and a clear focus on people as the state’s greatest asset.
“A record year delivered,” said Gov. Braun. “Now we build on that momentum, continuing to grow wages, strengthen communities and ensure Indiana remains a place where businesses invest and talent thrives.”
More information on 2025 Office of Commerce wins can be found here.
