The Ivy Tech Foundation assists students with overcoming barriers so that they can focus on their future, while also providing robust programs and facilities. If you are looking to volunteer, you can give of your time through the Circle of Ivy Philanthropy group and other campus engagement opportunities.
If you or someone you know wants to get involved with the Ivy Tech Foundation, contact Laura Wilson, Director of Development at Ivy Tech Foundation, Sellersburg, at 930-260-0100 or by email at Lwilson160@ivytech.edu.
Submitted by Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast
The last 12 months would not be described as a robust labor market. Indiana has now recorded seven consecutive months of negative year-over-year job changes. Outside of an official recession, this is the longest streak of negative year-over-year declines since 2003. Negative year-over-year job losses typically coincide with a recession, but no recession has occurred, making this trend even more concerning for Indiana.
Despite the overall weakness in payroll growth, there have been some encouraging signs that mirror positive developments in the national labor market. Education and healthcare has been the leading sector supporting payrolls over the past year, with the latest data showing a gain of 8,000 jobs. This relationship is typical. When overall job growth weakens, healthcare is often the most resilient sector and continues to expand. During the past four recessions, overall payrolls declined while education and health care remained in positive territory.
One bright spot in the Indiana labor market is growth in professional and business services, which is up 5,000 jobs over the year. Growth in professional and business services is often associated with business expansion and increasing demand for highly skilled workers. This time last year, employment in the sector was down 3,000 jobs, and overall payroll growth subsequently contracted. As a result, growth among professional and business services workers, often referred to as knowledge workers, is an encouraging sign for the broader economy.
Retail employment is also up by 5,000 jobs over the year. Retail employment gains are further evidence of consumer resilience. Despite higher interest rates and elevated prices, households have continued to spend, supporting retail activity and broader economic growth.
The largest declines in private-sector employment have occurred in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and leisure and hospitality. However, the most significant year-over-year decline has been in government employment, which is down nearly 17,000 jobs from a year ago. In fact, if government employment had remained flat, Indiana would be reporting growth in overall payrolls.
As we move through 2026, payroll growth should become more broad-based, allowing Indiana to return to positive year-over-year job gains. There are, however, some storm clouds on the horizon in the form of higher interest rates. Elevated rates were a major factor behind the slowdown in manufacturing, and persistently high borrowing costs could restrain the recovery that is beginning to emerge.
One of the conclusions from my recent Mid-Year Economic Outlook was that payroll growth would begin to accelerate both regionally and nationally. The latest national employment report showed the U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs, well above market expectations. Equity markets responded with one of their sharpest declines of the year. Stronger job growth combined with stubborn inflation suggests interest rates may remain higher for longer.
Even so, I expect inflation to trend lower during the remainder of the year. Both the Consumer Price Index and the Federal Reserve’s preferred PCE Price Index continue to reflect inflationary pressures, but several factors should contribute to moderation. Lower energy prices would contribute to easing headline inflation. Core inflation should also ease as the supply side of the economy continues to improve.
Manufacturing indicators such as the ISM Index have strengthened, while durable goods orders, factory orders, and industrial production have all shown improvement. This should bode well for Indiana. Job openings are also beginning to trend higher as the labor market recovers from the turbulence of the past year.
Indiana’s labor market is not yet firing on all cylinders however, but the underlying trends are positive. The challenge for the remainder of the year will be whether inflation and interest rates allow that recovery to broaden across more sectors of the economy. The likely scenario is that Indiana should soon move beyond its period of negative year-over-year job changes as payroll growth accelerates during the second half of the year.
NEW ALBANY, IN — One Southern Indiana is proud to announce that Lance Allison, President and CEO, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA).
Incorporated in 1915, ICEA serves as a professional network for chamber of commerce leaders across Indiana and plays a significant role in the growth and development of chamber professionals throughout the state. The organization provides management assistance, professional development opportunities, and access to a network of experienced chamber leaders focused on advancing their communities and organizations.
“We are excited to welcome Lance Allison to the ICEA Board of Directors,” said Jamie Neal, President of ICEA. “Lance brings a strong passion for the chamber profession and a great understanding of the impact chambers have on their communities. Through his leadership at One Southern Indiana, he has shown a true commitment to collaboration, growth, and supporting businesses. We appreciate his willingness to serve and are proud to have him as part of the ICEA board.”
Allison has served as President and CEO of One Southern Indiana since March 2024. Prior to joining 1si, he served as President/CEO of the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce in Kentucky and the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce in Florida.
Allison holds the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — two prestigious certifications that reflect his commitment to professional excellence and the chamber of commerce industry.
“I am honored to serve on the ICEA Board of Directors and to work alongside chamber professionals from across Indiana,” said Lance Allison. “Chambers play a vital role in strengthening businesses, supporting communities, and driving economic growth. I look forward to contributing to ICEA’s mission and continuing to advance the chamber profession throughout the state.”
About One Southern Indiana One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to help businesses innovate and thrive in the southern Indiana / Louisville metro area via the four pillars of Business Resources, Economic Development, Advocacy, and Small Business Services. For more information on One Southern Indiana, visit www.1si.org.
Contact: Ellinor Smith | ESmith@1si.org Phone: 812-206-9030
The Community Kitchen, located at 1611 Spring Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide a free, hot, nutritious meal, Monday – Friday & Sundays, to the needy and hungry in the area. Founded in 1989 by a group of dedicated volunteers, the Kitchen began as a small operation but has grown steadily and now serves 60,000 meals annually. It is wholly supported by cash and in-kind donations from the township trustee and local businesses, churches, and individuals.
From Left to Right: Lance Allison, President & CEO of 1si; Jack Harrison, Economic Development Specialist & MMA Liaison; John Launius, Chief Economic Development Officer
New Albany (May 11, 2026)- One Southern Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development’s (1si) Economic Development Specialist and MMA Liaison, Jack Harrison, has been named to Conexus Indiana’s Rising 30 Class of 2026 for his work in advanced manufacturing and logistics.
Presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM), the Rising 30 program spotlights Hoosiers 30 years old and younger whose early-career contributions demonstrate the depth of talent driving Indiana’s largest industry sector forward. Each honoree was nominated by an employer or industry representative and selected based on professional accomplishments and demonstrated impact.
While Jack Harrison’s work with the economic development organization One Southern Indiana puts him in contact with a wide range of businesses in an effort to bring more jobs to southern Indiana, his greatest impact might be on the region’s manufacturing sector. Assuming leadership of the regional organization’s Metro Manufacturing Alliance two years ago, Jack breathed new life into the group of 80 manufacturers by reprogramming its content, creating sold-out trainings on topics from exporting and foreign trade zones to lean manufacturing and sparking renewed interest in the Women in Manufacturing group. With a bachelor’s from Centre College and an MPA from Georgia State University, Jack seeks long-term impact as a community leader.
“In two years leading the Metro Manufacturing Alliance, Jack has meaningfully strengthened how our region’s manufacturers connect and grow,” Says SVP and Chief Economic Development Officer, John Launius, at 1si. “He shows up, takes ownership, and is constantly thinking of new ways to support local manufacturing across our region. His recognition is a reflection of the measurable impact on our manufacturing sector.”
The 2026 cohort reflects the true breadth of Indiana’s AML sector. Honorees hold roles spanning quality engineering and controls, supply chain and logistics, finance and business development, materials science and R&D, operations leadership and IT and systems infrastructure. The honorees work for organizations of every size and type—from global automotive manufacturers and life sciences companies to homegrown startups and regional economic development organizations—and they are based in communities across the state. Nine Indiana colleges and universities are represented among this year’s honorees, a reflection of the depth of the state’s talent pipeline.
“Young talent is one of Indiana’s greatest competitive advantages in advanced manufacturing and logistics,” said Jay Wirts, President and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “What makes this class so exciting is what they reflect about the industries themselves. They’re high-tech, sophisticated and constantly evolving. These 30 individuals aren’t waiting to shape the future of Indiana manufacturing. They’re already doing it.”
AML is the backbone of Indiana’s economy, accounting for more than a third of the state’s GDP and employing hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. Recognizing and developing young talent in the sector through the Rising 30 program is one way Conexus helps to keep that foundation strong.
In the year ahead, Rising 30 honorees will engage with Conexus Indiana’s programming as thought leaders, lending their perspectives on technology adoption, workforce development and the future of Indiana’s manufacturing and logistics industries.
About Conexus Indiana Conexus Indiana, a branded initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), is dedicated to advancing the Hoosier State’s position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Working closely with industry, academia, and government partners, Conexus Indiana drives workforce development, economic growth, and innovation across the state. For more information, please visit ConexusIndiana.com.
About One Southern Indiana One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the chamber of commerce and the local economic development organization serving Clark, Floyd, and Scott counties. 1si’s mission is to help businesses innovate and thrive in the southern Indiana/Louisville metro area via the four pillars of business resources, economic development, small business services, and advocacy. For more information on One Southern Indiana, visit www.1si.org.
Media Contact: One Southern Indiana Ellinor Smith ellinors@1si.org 812-945-0266
Submitted by Uric Dufrene, Ph.D., Sanders Chair in Business, Indiana University Southeast
The consumer has been the dominant force behind U.S. economic growth over the past several years. Despite high inflation and persistently weak consumer sentiment, households continued to spend, driving much of the nation’s growth as measured by gross domestic product (GDP).
Over the past eight quarters, real GDP growth averaged 2.23% per quarter. Consumer spending accounted for roughly 83% of that growth, well above its traditional share of the economy.
However, the latest GDP report suggests that some of the headwinds facing consumers, particularly higher gasoline prices and a slowing labor market, may finally be having an impact.
Preliminary estimates for the first quarter show a notable shift. The consumer’s contribution to GDP fell to approximately 54%, down sharply from the 83% average over the prior eight quarters. Goods spending weighed on overall growth, with recreational goods and vehicles having the largest negative impact, reducing GDP by 0.22 percentage points.
The U.S. economy is primarily driven by services, and it was services spending that continued to support overall consumption. Given the shift toward an experience-based economy following the COVID shock, one might expect spending on experiences to remain strong.
However, food services and accommodations, a reasonable proxy for the experience economy, also detracted from growth, shaving 0.14 percentage points from GDP. Instead, nearly half of all services spending growth came from health care. This is consistent with trends in the labor market, where health care has been responsible for a disproportionate share of recent job gains.
Taken together, the report points to a consumer that may be beginning to weaken. This matters because of the outsized role consumers have played in sustaining economic growth.
If the consumer is losing momentum, something else must take its place. Increasingly, that “something” is artificial intelligence.
Gross private domestic investment, the category that includes spending on equipment, software, and structures, accounted for nearly 75% of GDP growth in the first quarter. Investment in information processing equipment and software, much of it tied to artificial intelligence, drove nearly all of that growth. Residential investment, by contrast, reduced overall growth.
Net exports were the largest drag on GDP. The negative contribution from imports nearly doubled the positive contribution from exports. Notably, much of the information processing equipment fueling AI investment is imported, reinforcing this drag on growth.
A great deal is now riding on artificial intelligence. Equity markets are near all-time highs, driven in large part by technology firms making substantial AI investments. Expectations for productivity gains are high, with many anticipating that AI will help ease inflationary pressures and create room for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.
For the past several years, the economic engine has been the American consumer. Consumer spending will continue to represent almost 70% of the U.S. economy, but investment in artificial intelligence is covering for other developing weaknesses. An economy relying less on the consumer and more on capital investment, particularly in emerging technologies, raises important questions about the sustainability and balance of future growth. The consumer has long been the foundation of the U.S. economy, and we can expect that to remain. Replacing that foundation, even partially, is not without risk. With a labor market that has been propped up by healthcare hiring, and substantial growth now driven by AI investments, a good question might be about the sustainability and duration of both.
Shopping Basket
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Cookie Preferences
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
