Eastern Indiana’s Workforce Is Changing. Is Your Hiring Strategy Keeping Up?

Hiring across Eastern Indiana is not getting easier simply because more people are looking for work.

Indiana’s unemployment rate was 3.3% in August 2026, compared with 4.1% nationally. The state also reported 102,895 open job postings and gained 3,500 manufacturing jobs during the month.

That is good news for Indiana’s economy, but it also means employers are competing for a limited number of available workers.

The companies that succeed will be the ones that adjust how they recruit, train and retain employees.

The Local Workforce Is Not Getting Bigger

Wayne County provides a useful snapshot of the workforce challenges affecting communities throughout Eastern Indiana.

The county’s estimated population was 66,169 in 2025, a slight decline from 2020. More than 21% of residents are now age 65 or older, while only 58.5% of residents age 16 and older participate in the civilian labor force.

At the same time, 87.8% of adults age 25 and older have completed high school, demonstrating that the region has a strong foundation of capable workers who can succeed when employers provide clear opportunities and appropriate training.

The challenge is not a lack of potential. It is that retirements, population shifts and changing employee expectations are reducing the number of people available for traditional hiring methods.

Employers cannot wait for the applicant pool to suddenly get larger. They must become better at reaching, developing and keeping the people already here.

Speed Matters More Than Ever

Qualified candidates are often considering several opportunities at once.

A hiring process that takes two or three weeks may lose candidates to an employer that responds within a day, explains the position clearly and schedules an interview quickly.

Employers should review each step of their process:

How long does it take to contact an applicant?
Are job duties, schedules and pay clearly explained?
Can interviews be scheduled quickly?
Is there a clear decision-making process?
Does the candidate know what happens next?

Faster hiring does not mean careless hiring. It means eliminating unnecessary delays and maintaining clear communication throughout the process.

Hire for Ability and Train for the Position

In a tight labor market, requiring every candidate to arrive with years of identical experience can unnecessarily shrink the applicant pool.

Many strong employees bring transferable abilities from other industries, including:

Dependable attendance
Mechanical aptitude
Safety awareness
Customer service
Leadership experience
Problem-solving skills
Willingness to learn

Companies that identify these qualities and provide structured training can build their own skilled workforce instead of continually competing for the same small group of experienced candidates.

This approach also creates career opportunities for local residents who are ready to work but may not have had access to specialized training.

Job Seekers Are Evaluating Employers Too

Pay remains important, but it is no longer the only factor people consider.

Candidates also want to understand the schedule, work environment, leadership, advancement opportunities and stability of the company before accepting a position.

An accurate job description and an honest conversation about expectations can improve both hiring and retention. When the position presented during recruitment matches the job an employee experiences on the first day, trust begins immediately.

When expectations are unclear or constantly changing, turnover often follows.

Retention Begins Before the First Day

Recruiting and retention should not be treated as separate challenges.

The experience a candidate has during the application, interview and onboarding process shapes how that employee views the company. Delayed responses, confusing instructions or an unorganized first day can make a new hire question the decision before the job has truly begun.

Strong employers create a clear path from applicant to employee by providing:

Consistent communication
Realistic job expectations
Organized onboarding
Proper safety training
Regular feedback
Visible opportunities for growth

Keeping dependable employees is almost always more efficient than repeatedly replacing them.

Flexible Staffing Is a Workforce Strategy

Temporary and temp-to-hire staffing should not be viewed only as an emergency solution.

Flexible staffing allows companies to respond to production increases, employee absences, seasonal demand and new contracts without placing unnecessary pressure on the existing workforce.

It also gives employers an opportunity to evaluate attendance, performance and workplace fit before making a permanent hiring decision.

For job seekers, temporary and temp-to-hire positions provide a way to gain experience, demonstrate work ethic and build a path toward long-term employment.

How Manpower Eastern Indiana Can Help

Manpower Eastern Indiana works with employers and job seekers throughout Richmond, Portland, New Castle and surrounding communities.

Our local team helps employers:

Reach qualified local candidates
Respond to staffing needs faster
Reduce pressure on internal hiring teams
Support temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire needs
Improve communication throughout the hiring process
Build a workforce plan around changing production demands

We also help job seekers understand available opportunities, prepare for the hiring process and connect with employers looking for dependable people.

Eastern Indiana has talented workers and growing companies. Connecting the right people with the right opportunities requires a hiring strategy built for the workforce we have today.

If your business is struggling to fill positions or prepare for changing workforce needs, contact Manpower Eastern Indiana.

Richmond
500 E. Main St.
Richmond, IN 47374
765-966-2664

Portland
609 N. Meridian St.
Portland, IN 47371
260-726-2888

New Castle
235 S. 14th St.
New Castle, IN 47362
765-966-2664

https://www.mprichmond.com

Sources:

Indiana Department of Workforce Development, August 2026 Employment Report
https://www.in.gov/dwd/newsroom/employment-reports/

U.S. Census Bureau, Wayne County QuickFacts
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/waynecountyindiana/PST045225