INDIANAPOLIS–The CEO of Eli Lilly and Co., one of Indiana’s largest employers, said Thursday that the state needs to do more to address the health and education level of Hoosiers.
“Our education attainment in the state is not good. The ability to reskill the workforce, I think, could improve. Health, life and inclusion, overall, I think, conditions rank poorly nationally in our state. And also workforce preparedness, also related to reskilling, is a liability for us,” said David Ricks, Eli Lilly CEO, to the Economic Club of Indiana Thursday afternoon.
Ricks believes close to a third of traditional jobs will be replaced in the next decade in favor of positions heavy on math and science, which is critical to Lilly’s core business. According to his data, only a third of Indiana high school students pass the state’s standardized math test, and only 20% go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.
He believes Indiana needs to have a more healthy workforce. Ricks believes health care costs are too high and that is making Indiana less attractive to other employers.
“Who funds this? Companies fund this. We need to address this to attract more industry to our neighborhood here,” said Ricks.
Ricks said Indiana needs to do a better job of being more inclusive.
“Certainly outcomes on all of these dimensions for black and brown communities are worse and we should do something to affect that. One of the primary things businesses can do is offer good employment,” said Ricks.
Governor Holcomb does acknowledge that more work needs to be done on the education side. He cut the ribbon on Intelinair’s new headquarters near Meridian Hills in Indianapolis on Thursday.
“If you look at what we are attracting to the state of Indiana, we are knocking the cover off of the ball. What we do need is more talent and specific types of talent,” said Holcomb.
Lilly executives have not said they would move the headquarters out of Indianapolis, but they have invested billions of dollars in the last two years in research and manufacturing facilities in North Carolina, Boston, and Ireland.
LISTEN: Audio of Ricks speaking to the Economic Club of Indiana
