INDIANA — Newly released labor market data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) offers a comprehensive quarterly snapshot of the workforce dynamics across Southern Indiana’s Economic Growth Region 10 (EGR 10), which encompasses Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington counties.
The quarterly metrics evaluate real-time hiring demand, sector-level employment and wage growth, and geographic distribution across the six-county region.
1. Real-Time Job Demand: Healthcare and Logistics Lead Hiring Activity
According to the Q3 2026 Real-Time Job Demand Report, hiring demand remained heavily concentrated in healthcare, logistics, and retail management across the region.
- Top Hiring Sector: Health Care and Social Assistance dominated regional online recruitment, posting 2,932 job ads. Administrative/Support Services followed with 2,075 ads, while Retail Trade accounted for 1,576 ads.
- Most Sought-After Occupations: Registered Nurses (RNs) were the single most in-demand profession with 822 postings, followed by Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (658 ads) and Retail Salespersons (420 ads).
- Education & Skill Requirements: Over 4,000 job ads required a high school diploma or GED, while more than 2,000 postings required a bachelor’s degree. Top required employability skills included Communication (5,346 ads) and Customer Service (3,842 ads).
- Geographic Distribution: Clark County led the region by a wide margin with 7,703 job postings, followed by Floyd County with 4,186 postings.
2. Industry Sector Snapshot: Wages Rise as Healthcare Expands
The Q1 2026 Industry Sector Snapshot—sourced from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)—showed total regional employment reaching 118,167 jobs across 6,528 business establishments. The overall average weekly wage in EGR 10 rose 3.54% year-over-year to $1,081.
Largest Sectors by Employment
- Health Care and Social Services: 20,052 jobs (+3.53% year-over-year)
- Manufacturing: 17,496 jobs (-2.77% year-over-year)
- Retail Trade: 14,197 jobs (-1.03% year-over-year)
- Accommodation and Food Services: 12,331 jobs (+1.31% year-over-year)
- Transportation & Warehousing: 11,728 jobs (+1.98% year-over-year)
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industry Sectors
| Sector | Average Weekly Wage | YoY Wage Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Insurance | $2,347 | +33.05% |
| Utilities | $2,205 | -4.83% |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $1,548 | -6.97% |
| Wholesale Trade | $1,513 | +6.03% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $1,412 | +3.90% |
While manufacturing experienced a slight pullback in total workforce count, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services saw significant job growth, surging 10.23% year-over-year to 3,954 positions.
3. Geographic Breakdown & Regional Impact
The combined quarterly reports highlight the economic concentration in Southern Indiana’s metropolitan hubs adjacent to Louisville, Kentucky:
- Clark and Floyd Counties account for the vast majority of active online job postings (11,889 combined ads out of the regional total).
- Rural counties in EGR 10 maintained steady baseline demand, led by Harrison County (918 postings), Scott County (636 postings), Washington County (372 postings), and Crawford County (242 postings).
Regional analysts note that despite economic shifts across manufacturing and retail, high demand for qualified healthcare professionals, skilled trades, and transportation workers continues to drive recruitment efforts across Region 10.
