worker shortage

More than a dozen U.S. states have passed laws recognizing occupational licenses issued by other states — but Indiana won’t be joining them anytime soon.

Hospital administrators have been raising wages of non-clinical staff to lure employees after the pandemic. Construction is underway for what will be Bloomington’s third public library. And advocates are questioning timber harvesting.

Staff say finding non-clinical staff can be even harder than clinicians.

A handful of states – including Minnesota and Massachusetts – have passed laws putting wage caps on how much staffing agencies can pay nurses. But in Indiana, lawmakers haven’t discussed any solutions.

In the latest Indiana Chamber employer workforce survey, 72 percent of businesses in Indiana told the chamber the supply of applicants does not meet their needs, up from 50 percent last year.

Beginning Tuesday, almost a dozen Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices throughout the state will be closed until Oct. 2 due to staffing shortages.